Excellency Mr Vice Prime Minister in Charge of Basic Needs;
Excellencies Members of Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo;
Excellencies Ministers of Health of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS);
Excellencies Ambassadors and Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
Mr Secretary-General and Experts of the Economic Community of Central African States;
Distinguished Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Permit me to use this occasion to express my deep gratitude to His Excellency Joseph Kabila Kabange, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and incumbent chairman of the Economic Community of Central African States for having promptly convened this Extraordinary Meeting of ministers of health on influenza A (H1N1). This reflects the determination of Member states to preserve the health and the lives of the populations.
Permit me also to express my sincere thankfulness to the Secretary-General of ECCAS for having involved the World Health Organization in the deliberations of this important meeting on such a topical issue of global concern.
I would like to commend ministers of health and heads of delegation of Member States for having come here in Kinshasa to address the urgent public health issue of influenza A (H1N1) epidemic and map out strategies and actions for coordinated preparedness and response.
Excellency Mr Prime Minister,
Excellencies ministers of health,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Today we are facing an influenza A (H1N1) epidemic that has the potential to develop into a full blown pandemic. The epidemic which started in Mexico in March 2009 reached the United States of America and then spread rapidly to other countries. As at yesterday, 4393 cases had been confirmed in laboratory, causing 52 fatalities in 30 countries worldwide.
To date, no case of influenza A (H1N1) has been confirmed in laboratory in the African Region. However, 17 suspected cases have been reported and investigated by 8 countries in the African Region, namely, Benin, Kenya, Nigeria, Seychelles, South Africa, Togo, Uganda and Zambia. Fifteen of the suspected cases turned out negative while two are still undergoing investigation in South Africa.
Central Africa is particularly vulnerable to certain recurrent epidemics such as viral haemorrhagic fevers and cholera. It is also susceptible to outbreaks of seasonal influenza and influenza A (H1N1) epidemics.
Given the global dimension of the epidemic, the WHO Director-General has raised the pandemic alert level to phase five. The declaration of phase five is a signal that a pandemic is imminent. This serious situation calls for a rapid, concerted and effective action. Against this background, I contacted all the ministers of health of the African Region to draw their attention to the epidemic as well as the technical guidance recommended by the WHO.
I have also set up committees for technical coordination of response at the WHO Regional Office and the intercountry support locations. The committees have been assigned the task of supporting Member States in preparedness and response.
At this stage, awareness is very important at all levels including the political level as evidenced by the holding of this meeting. However, it is important also that all sectors should feel concerned and that the awareness be created and sustained up to the community level to enhance the effectiveness of the recommended measures of protection and control.
WHO has also sent to all country offices antiviral medicines (Oseltamivir, more commonly called Tamiflu) and personal protective equipment in order to provide emergency support when necessary. Technical guidelines and directives for epidemic prevention and control have been made available to all countries.
Given that the epidemiological surveillance system and the capacity for laboratory confirmation of influenza A (H1N1) cases are both weak in the Region, I would like to stress the need to implement measures in preparedness for a possible influenza pandemic. Actions needed in this regard are:
- Reactivation of preparedness and response plans;
- Strengthening of influenza surveillance and early warning in all health facilities, public or private;
- Strengthening of the network of laboratories;
- Pre-positioning of medicines and protective equipment;
- Measures for individual and collective protection.
Excellency Mr Prime Minister,
Excellencies ministers of health;
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Over the past two days, experts have held in-depth discussions on the current epidemic. I would like to commend the quality of the work done. I am delighted about the emphasis put on harmonization of strategies and implementation of International Health Regulations.
I would therefore like to use this occasion to, once again, remind all countries of Central Africa of the crucial need to update their national pandemic preparedness and response plans, reactivate their epidemic control committees, and strengthen their epidemiological surveillance and early warning systems.
WHO is at your disposal to provide the necessary technical support jointly with other health development partners.
Concerning the United Nations, the Secretary-General has urged increased collaboration between all agencies, due regard to the interest of each country and international solidarity in the provision of response by the United Nations System.
Permit me to conclude by, once again, thanking the Government and the People of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for the warm welcome and the hospitality we have received since our arrival in Kinshasa.
I thank you.