AHAIC DAY 3: DEMANDING CLIMATE ACTION NOW!
Health challenges affecting Africa continue to be complex and intertwined. In order to prepare for future health threats, stronger collaboration among African countries, and inclusive leadership are needed ~ Hon. Mohammad Abd El Fattah, Undersecretary for Preventive Affairs – Ministry of Health and Population, Egypt Day three of AHAIC 2023 focused on an array of themes with climate change and health interface taking center stage in a series of sessions that included two high-level plenary and 14 parallel sessions. Delegates delved into a range of topics including building climate resilience at the community level, leveraging technology to amplify global health, unlocking the power of public health data and closing the geographic and financial divide to empower African researchers. Click HERE to read the full highlights. Participants engaged in dialogue that explored both challenges and opportunities for sustainable, unified climate action and investment in health workers, with the general consensus being that Africa can – and must – do more to elevate the voices of those working to protect both people and planet and move beyond talk to action. Climate change adaptation and mitigation featured prominently in a rare meeting between World Health Organization (WHO) and the private sector – including Pharmaceutical companies, where the need for collective effort in adaptation, and mitigation were discussed. Decarbonizing health system through measures such as proper waste management and industry approach must be prioritized. In other considerations, the need for pharmaceutical manufacturing, genomic data, and harmonized regulatory frameworks were recognized as critical in creating strong mechanisms for pandemic preparedness. Key takeaways from the day’s sessions:
Road to AHAIC 2023: Mainstreaming climate discourse into health policy
On March 5th – 8th 2023, Africa’s top thought leaders, political figures, innovators, researchers, policy makers, health workers and community mobilisers will convene in Kigali, Rwanda for the much needed, long awaited and probably long overdue dialogue and action on mainstreaming climate discourse into health policy conversations and vice versa at the Africa Health Agenda International Conference 2023. In this conversation, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, Rwanda’s Minister of Health and Dr. Ahmed Ogwell Ouma, the Acting Director AFRICA CDC put perspective on Africa’s progress in strengthening its ability to detect and manage outbreaks of diseases in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.