Brenda Yufeh
2 September 2008
Many people who do not know the African continent may mistake it for a haven of diseases and poverty. This could be true! As noted in the African Health Strategy, in 27 countries in Africa, the annual health expenditure from all resources, including foreign aid and loans, is average less than 30 US dollars per person. This amount, according to Dr Margaret Chan, Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), is below what is needed to purchase a minimum "survival kit" of essential health intervention. Again, health systems are too weak and services are under-resourced to support reduction in the disease burden in Africa.
But yesterday during the opening ceremony of the 58th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa in Yaounde, in the presence of Cameroon's Prime Minister, Head of Government, Chief Ephraim Inoni, Mr Ray Chambers, UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Malaria, African Union officials, African Ministers of Health and over 500 delegates from Africa, Dr Margaret Chan underlined that treatment and the fight against diseases in Africa can just be as good as anywhere else in the world with the willingness and good policies of African leaders. The aim of the session is to propose actions to improve the health of women, curb the harmful use of alcohol and eradicate polio, cancer, malaria, from the African continent.
Malaria
The fact that the Secretary General of the United Nations sent a special envoy for Malaria, Dr Ray Chambers, to the 58th session, indicates the need to eradicate the malaria pandemic, which has been referred to as an African disease, especially as it takes the lives of between one to three million people annually in Africa. Dr Ray says malaria drains Africa of over 30 billion dollars each year in health cost and lost of productivity. According to him, 600 million people are at risk for malaria as it traps citizens in a cycle of poverty. Mr Ray says WHO now have the money and the technology to bring mortality rate from malaria to zero in the next few years. "Malaria's moment have truly arrived, with commitments from African leaders we are sure to win the war against malaria", Dr Ray noted.
Polio
Eradication of a disease is the ultimate form of sustainable progress. Unfortunately, African countries are again at risk of Polio. There is an urgent need to interrupt the wild poliovirus in Northern Nigeria. Reports from WHO show that Nigeria is the only African country and one of the four worldwide where polio is still endemic. Health experts during the 58th session will today discuss key recommendations that will monitor and evaluate immunisation activities at all levels in Nigeria.
Alcohol
Dr Luis Gomes Sambo, WHO Regional Director for Africa will today propose a ten-point action plan to curb the harmful consumption of alcohol. These are restricting sale, regulating marketing; increasing taxes and prices, enforcing drinking and driving laws. In his report to the annual meeting of health ministers from 46 countries, Dr Luis stressed the need to curb the harmful use of alcohol which poses a serious threat to the African regions' health and development efforts.
Health Care Services
Every patient has the right to treatment using the safest technology available in health facilities. Given the weak services and under-resourced health systems in Africa the current session will discuss national policy for patients' safety, raising awareness of all stakeholders on the importance of patient safety, ensuring safe surgical care while minimizing healthcare-associated infections. As such, talks will be geared at improving Africa's laboratory services currently characterised by inadequate staffing, equipment and supplies.
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