Remarks by WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti
Hon Alban Kingsford Suman Bagbin, the Honourable Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana,
Mr Martin Chungong, the IPU Secretary General,
Hon Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, the Honourable Minister for Health of Ghana,
Honourable Members of Parliament from Africa,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I have known few greater honours than the opportunity to address lawmakers from across the continent in this historic Chamber of Ghana’s Parliamentary House, designed and built by the first President of Ghana, the panafricanist Kwame Nkrumah.
I thank Mr Chungong, and the IPU for this partnership; it enables us, together, to improve people’s health in Africa.
My deep gratitude to the Honourable Alban Kingsford Suman Bagbin, the Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana, for hosting this first-ever African parliamentary meeting on health security, jointly convened by IPU and WHO.
Parliaments—as the state institutions that oversee the work of the executive arms of government—have a key role to play in ensuring result-driven actions and accountability at all levels, for the benefit of the citizens.
In so doing, you leverage your authority as the people’s representatives to articulate the needs and concerns of the people, including the most vulnerable.
You ensure that the decisions and actions are taken to respond to these needs.
With strong and sustained parliamentary engagement, the targets under SDG 3, including universal health coverage and health security preparedness, can be advanced.
I come here today to reaffirm that truth.
***
Two months ago, during the United Nations General Assembly, our heads of state adopted two important “Political Declarations”: one on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response, and the other on Universal Health Coverage.
The COVID-19 pandemic left a huge impact on health systems, economies, lives, livelihoods, and the well-being of people and communities. This reminds us of the connection between universal health coverage and health emergencies.
Early in the pandemic, African governments, supported by their Parliaments, took strong and proactive action to protect their populations and economies. Timely implementation of the recommended public health and social measures averted the predicted millions of COVID-19 deaths expected in the region.
As countries responded to the pandemic, they had to ensure the continued delivery of other essential health services.
Parliaments and parliamentarians have a decisive role in ensuring these political declarations on universal health coverage and pandemic preparedness and response are translated into action through various responsibilities, from law-making and oversight to budgetary allocation and citizen representation.
The political declaration for pandemic preparedness and response is accompanied by two other global processes: the negotiations for a Pandemic Accord and amendments to the International Health Regulations. All these are aimed at strengthening pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response across the world, leaving no countries, or people, behind.
The COVID-19 pandemic unleashed opportunities that could benefit Africa, if we all work together. The stunning inequities that were laid bare as the whole world was at risk compel this collective approach.
Our region continues to be prone to health emergencies; this year alone, WHO in the African Region has recorded 144 public health emergencies.
The capacity of our Member States to respond to these is steadily being enhanced. However, we need to be well ahead of where we are, regarding preparedness and response capacity.
Honourable Members of Parliament,
Kwame Nkrumah’s central insight remains true today: Africa achieves more when united. And when President Nkrumah addressed parliamentarians in this Chamber 60 years ago, he reminded them that unity is essentially an African value.
With a common African position and high-level political engagement, we can ensure that the new Pandemic Accord and the revised International Health Regulations address our continent's needs, for example, the equity issues on health products, and the transfer of technology to boost local manufacturing.
With a common position, we can reinvigorate primary health care as a pathway for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, and universal health coverage.
A key gap in Africa is investment in health at the domestic and national level, which is critical for the success of this global effort.
A critical opportunity would be less fragmentation and better synergy and impact from international finances.
That is why our conversation and partnership are timely.
As parliamentarians, we know that you can convert citizens’ aspirations, including for health and well-being, into legislation and measurable actions, covering budgetary allocations.
We know that you can ensure that universal health coverage and health security preparedness evolve as priority areas in your government’s development agenda, and are given adequate investment.
At the end of our meeting, we expect to agree on what to implement in our respective countries.
We will discuss governance and leadership, legislation and policies, sustainable financing, accounting, and monitoring. These are areas where your engagements will be vital in strengthening health security preparedness.
We’re not starting from scratch, and I thank you for the actions you are taking and the best practices you are scaling up. The experience of the parliamentary network for universal health coverage and health security in Nigeria has, for example, been discussed for possible adaptation in Ghana.
We’d like to hear about similar experiences on laws governing domestic financing, including national public health emergency funds and health insurance schemes, to mention but a few.
I am grateful for the broad spectrum of people in this room, from Ministries, including Health, Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Internal Affairs, to the private sector, donors, local NGOs, and community leaders.
It is a true whole-of-society and whole-of-government representation that is needed to achieve both universal health coverage and health security.
Communities are at the center of these. As Members of Parliament, you have a strong connection there—as the representatives of constituents and leaders in local communities, added to your roles as advocates and decision-makers at the national level.
Through your engagement with the IPU, you can influence your counterparts on other continents at the global level.
This means that you deserve to fully understand these issues, to effectively play your role.
This moment is just as promising for Africa as the moment when our new nations were being born.
This is a new moment of great promise.
We have the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of giants like Nkrumah and Kenyatta to determine Africa’s future. I believe the COVID-19 pandemic and its manifold, and not least economic impacts has demonstrated that.
It will especially be the young people brimming with talent, energy, and hope who can claim the future you will determine.
With courage and purpose, with unity and hope, with the fulfilment that comes with serving the vulnerable, let us work together—as enduring partners in the cause of a continent that is healthier, more peaceful, and more secure, with an appropriate global setting to protect all against pandemics.
Thank you very much.