A delegation of senior health officials from 11 African countries and the African Union Commission were in Washington last week (April 17 – 25) to advocate for continued US support and funding for African health initiatives and to promote public-private health partnerships. The visit was hosted by Global Health Progress and coordinated by the Whitaker Group.
"With a new administration in the White House and a global economic crisis forcing a review of every US funding commitment, decision-makers in Washington are looking for new ways and new partners to promote sustainable advances in health." said Mr. Chris Singer, President of PhRMA International, leader of the Global Health Progress (GHP) initiative. "It is imperative that they hear directly from African health leaders about their health priorities as well as the success of innovative health partnership models."
GHP, a partnership initiative, brings research-based biopharmaceutical companies and global health leaders together to improve health in the developing world. Its members are participating in a host of successful public-private partnerships across the continent that are transforming public health infrastructure and promoting treatments that return millions of Africans to productive lives.
The representatives engaged a diverse group of stakeholders on African health progress and challenges -- exploring new partnerships with non-governmental organizations, foundations, and the private sector. In recognition of World Malaria Day, the delegation participated in a Congressional forum on strategies to combat malaria, a disease that kills over 800,000 people in sub-Saharan Africa every year and is estimated to cost the continent $12 billion annually in lost gross domestic product (GDP). In addition, the delegates witnessed cutting-edge research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and traveled to Boston to tour AstraZeneca's research and development facilities and discuss innovative partner-driven approaches to address health challenges in Africa.
Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ), the chairman of the US House of Representatives Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health, and Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), the ranking Republican on the Africa and Global Health Subcommittee were among the Members of Congress who engaged the delegation during the visit. The delegation also met with officials from the US State Department, the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator, Admiral Timothy Ziemer of the President's Malaria Initiative, the National Institutes of Health's Dr. Anthony Fauci and leaders from the World Bank.
While emphasizing the importance of continued support for African health initiatives, members of the delegation were also eager to personally thank policy-makers for the passage in 2008 of the $48-billion reauthorization of PEPFAR, the landmark legislation that commits historic levels of US funding to combating HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in the developing world, while urging Washington to fully fund the commitment.
"While it is true that only the United States has the capacity to sustain such a large program," said Dr. Grace Kalimugogo, the African Union Commission's Coordinator for HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis, "it is also true that only the United States has the will to show such unprecedented generosity."
"Not only has the visit given us the opportunity to speak to US policymakers and representatives from the private sector and NGOs, it has also provided invaluable opportunities for an exchange of ideas between our respective health ministries," she added. "With greater communication, we are able to share models of successful public-private partnerships that may be replicated elsewhere. A problem shared is a problem solved."
"These delegates are at the forefront of African-innovated, African-led development," commented Ms. Rosa Whitaker, President and CEO of the Whitaker Group. "They bring with them extraordinary experience and knowledge of what works and what doesn't in the field of healthcare, and they come with a strong message of keeping Africa on the agenda and of the excellent return America is getting on its investment of health in Africa."
In addition to meeting with policy-makers, members of the delegation provided their perspective at roundtable discussions on a range of health-related issues, including HIV/AIDS, neglected tropical diseases, safe medicines and public health education in Africa.
The delegation also presented a leadership award to President Jimmy Carter and The Carter Center for their work over the past 25 years in combating neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Africa.
At the awards reception, hosted by GHP and global advocacy group ONE, the center was given particular recognition for its work in all but eradicating guinea worm disease. Incidence of the disease has dropped 99.7% from 3.5 million cases in 20 countries in 1986, when President Carter launched the eradication campaign, to under 5,000 cases in six countries today.
The Carter Center, in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the British Government, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the governments of affected countries, recently launched its final push to completely eradicate guinea worm disease globally.
Accepting the award on behalf of President Carter were Dr. John Hardman, President and CEO of The Carter Center, and Dr. Don Hopkins, the Center's Vice President for Health Programs. "The Carter Center is not the main ingredient," Dr. Hopkins said. Rather, he added, the center is a "catalyst," working with African Ministries of Health and community groups on the ground.
In addition to the African Union, the following Ministries of Health were represented among the delegation: Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Contact: Meg Dallett
(202) 293-1453
