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Zambia has urged African Union (AU) member states to reinforce the continent’s emergency preparedness and response systems to better safeguard public health and well-being.
Minister of Health, Dr. Elijah Muchima, highlighted the need to strengthen Africa’s health infrastructure and readiness to address health emergencies.
His remarks were made during the 13th Governing Board Meeting of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Tuesday.
In a statement issued by Inutu Mwanza, First Secretary for Press and Tourism at the Zambian Embassy in Addis Ababa, Muchima stated the importance of learning from past health crises, including the Ebola and COVID-19 pandemics.
“The lessons of the past must guide us. We cannot afford to wait for another catastrophic health crisis like Ebola or COVID-19 to remind us of the urgent need to enhance our emergency response mechanisms,” Muchima stated.
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He also commended the Africa CDC for its proactive decision to declare Mpox a public health emergency of continental security on August 13, 2024, calling the declaration a crucial step in mobilizing resources, protecting vulnerable communities, and boosting Africa’s health resilience.
Muchima further underscored the link between climate change and public health, noting that extreme weather events like droughts and floods are exacerbating disease outbreaks such as cholera and Rift Valley fever.
He stressed the importance of joint efforts to tackle these intersecting challenges.
During the 13th Governing Board Meeting, Africa CDC officials also reviewed and adopted a new framework for declaring public health emergencies of continental security, a measure intended to enhance Africa’s health security by enabling rapid and effective responses to emerging health threats.
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