Egypt called for stronger African cooperation to address the continent’s health challenges, expand vaccine production and strengthen healthcare systems during the African Union Extraordinary Summit on Health in Accra, Ghana.
The July 21-22 summit was held under the theme: “Advancing Justice, Equity and Universal Health Coverage: Ending AIDS, TB, Improving Maternal Health, and Addressing Endemic Non-Communicable and Neglected Tropical Diseases and Conditions in Africa.”
Deputy Foreign Minister for African Affairs Mohamed Abubakr led the Egyptian delegation, highlighting Egypt’s experience in healthcare reform, disease prevention and control, and local pharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturing.
The delegation outlined Egypt’s efforts to combat communicable and non-communicable diseases, expand access to healthcare services and advance universal health coverage as part of the country’s sustainable development agenda.
Abubakr affairmed the importance of strengthening African partnerships in healthcare, pharmaceutical manufacturing and vaccine production, while promoting sustainable domestic financing to help countries build more resilient health systems and respond to growing public health challenges.
On the sidelines of the summit, the Egyptian delegation held bilateral meetings with several participating delegations to exchange views on key public health priorities and explore opportunities to deepen cooperation across the continent.
Abubakr also briefed African officials on Egypt’s preparations to host the African Union’s 8th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting in El Alamein in early October. The meeting will be held alongside the African Business Forum and the NEPAD Summit for Cooperation and Development.
The summit brought together African heads of state, including the presidents of Tanzania, Burundi and Benin, as well as ministers responsible for health, finance and foreign affairs, to discuss strategies for accelerating progress toward universal health coverage, improving maternal health, combating infectious and non-communicable diseases, and strengthening Africa’s health systems.
The meeting concluded with renewed calls for greater regional collaboration, increased investment in health and stronger local manufacturing capacity to improve access to medicines and vaccines across the continent.
