Amref Health Africa Press Briefing | WHO

Opening Remarks by WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti

Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening,

Thank you, Dr Githahi and Amref Health Africa, for organizing this press conference. I’m honored to be with you, other speakers, and our colleagues from the media. I sincerely thank our journalists for their commitment to health communication and fighting misinformation. 

This year’s World Health Assembly’s theme, “All for Health, Health for All,” conveys all our aspirations.

It will be chaired by Dr Edwin Dikoloti, the Minister of Health and Wellness of Botswana.

A large range of priority subjects of concern to people, governments, and development organizations worldwide will be discussed. Let me highlight a few critical issues for Africa.

One of the topics of highest significance will be how the world prepares for and responds to pandemics – based on the experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Assembly is to consider the outcome of the Working Group on Amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005); and the work of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body established to draft and negotiate a WHO convention, agreement or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. 

We have been working closely with the Africa CDC and other partners, supporting the global discussions and negotiations to ensure that our Member States in the African Region are fully engaged in the Working Group and INB negotiations; we want to make sure that our region’s context and specific needs. 

We hope to reach an agreement, acceptable and fair to all countries by the end of the World Health Assembly. We expect to find a common ground, to help Africa and the entire global community better prepare for future pandemics, and other health emergencies. 

The Assembly will discuss the progress and challenges of universal health coverage (UHC). 

More people in the African Region can now access essential health services, as demonstrated by the increase in the UHC service coverage index (a summary score out of 100) – from 23 in 2000 to 46 in 2019. 

The proportion of people pushed (or pushed further) into extreme poverty due to health care costs has reduced significantly from 45% in 2000 to 14% in 2019.

Despite this progress, far too many people in our region cannot access the services they need, when needed, and at an affordable cost. 

In 2019, African Heads of States, under the chairmanship of President Kagame, launched a health financing initiative to close funding gap and accelerate progress towards Universal Health Coverage.

We strongly advocate that our leaders continue to prioritise health in government budgets in line with decisions taken by all Heads of State—while recognizing existing challenges and the higher costs of obtaining financing by African governments. Available resources must be used effectively and efficiently for interventions that will impact the greatest number of people, particularly the most vulnerable and marginalized. 

Non-communicable diseases will be discussed at this year’s Assembly. In Africa, NCDs are an escalating silent epidemic. They place a huge financial burden on families and countries. 

Despite ongoing efforts, NCDs are projected to become the leading cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030. We are working intensely with partners to scale up proven interventions to reduce the NCD burden.

Next, the Assembly will examine maternal health and child mortality. Between 2000 and 2020, maternal mortality dropped by about 44% in the WHO African Region.

During the same period, thirteen  countries in our region reduced their maternal mortality rates by over 50%. 

Nevertheless, too many mothers still die in childbirth, and most of the countries in our region are off track in meeting the SDGs health targets for maternal mortality.

The assembly will discuss a resolution to accelerate progress towards reduction in maternal and child mortality. 

Regarding health security, we have worked hard supporting countries to strengthen their capacity to prevent, prepare for and respond to public health emergencies.  

The sub-regional emergency hubs we’ve set up in Nairobi and Dakar recently are making a lot of difference. We have reduced the time it takes to deliver equipment and supplies to respond effectively to public health emergencies, and close down outbreaks.

Equally crucial is our assistance to countries in building their capacity to manufacture essential health products locally—and there has been progress in this regard.

Sustainable local production requires a multidimensional, coordinated, and collaborative approach; to this end WHO continues to work with strategic stakeholders such as Africa CDC, AUDA-NEPAD, and development partners to identify opportunities and agree on concrete interventions to support local African manufacturers to produce quality, safe and effective medicines, vaccines, and other health technologies.

In the face of the climate change crisis, WHO has been working closely with partners to support our member states to respond to the escalating threat that climate change poses to health.

To date, twenty-seven of the 47 Member States in our Region have made commitments to build resilient and sustainable, low carbon health systems. 

At the COP28 in Dubai, 19 WHO African countries had ministerial representation at the first ever Health Day. Following up on that, we are beginning to build a cohort of health experts as climate negotiators.

Addressing the health impact of the Climate Change crisis will be discussed at the World Health Assembly this year leading to a draft resolution for consideration by the Assembly.

I’m sure we will deepen these issues in the Q&A session that follows. 

Merci beaucoup, Amref Health Africa, for this media initiative and our partnership, as we all work together for a healthier, safer, fairer Africa.