KIGALI, June 22 (IPS) – Professor Claude Mambo Muvunyi is Director General of the Rwanda Biomedical Center Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare systems across the globe have had to fight to cope with the consequences of the epidemic. From the outset, Africa has been seen as particularly vulnerable due to a number of factors: limited health care provision in some regions, high rates of HIV and tuberculosis in some countries. and limited financial space to respond to the financial impacts of the pandemic.
However, governments across the continent are still trying to work together to respond to the pandemic at an unprecedented rate. This is possible because of previous experience dealing with outbreaks such as Ebola, yellow fever and cholera, with systems in place to deal with outbreaks. In many respects, Africa has responded well.
However, what began as a health crisis soon evolved into an economic crisis. The pandemic has pushed Africa into its first recession in 25 years. It increased extreme poverty on the continent for the first time in decades. Although African economies are slowly recovering, the recovery is limited by low vaccination rates, budgetary constraints, unequal access to external finance and growing debt capacity. the more increasing.
The need to increase investment in healthcare has never been clearer. Prioritizing health at home is one of the best investments African nations can make to secure their vision of a prosperous and peaceful continent.
To achieve this, Africa must meet its health commitments as outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. An important focus is on eliminating malaria and neglected tropical diseases.
On June 23, Rwanda will host Kigali Summit on Malaria and NTDs chaired by President Paul Kagame and co-convened by RBM partnership to end malaria and Unite to fight NTD.
The Summit is a signal moment to renew high-level commitments to end malaria and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and unlock the potential for countries to build a better world. healthier, safer world. Malaria and NTDs, a group of 20 infectious diseases that most commonly affect the world’s most vulnerable people, continue to thrive in poverty-stricken areas, affecting the lives and livelihoods of millions of people. billion people, the majority in Africa. These diseases are preventable and treatable.
This year, Rwanda was certified by the World Health Organization (WHO) for eliminating human toxocariasis (HAT), commonly known as sleeping sickness. To date, 45 countries have eliminated at least one NTD and 600 million people no longer need treatment for this group of diseases. Two decades of investment in fighting malaria have saved 10.6 million lives and prevented 1.7 billion cases, significantly reducing the burden on health systems worldwide.
Over the past five years, Rwanda has made progress in its response to malaria, with the number of malaria cases falling from 4.8 million in 2017 to 1.1 million in 2021, from eighteen thousand cases of severe malaria. in 2016 to two thousand in 2021 and from 700 malaria deaths to 69 in the same period.
As Africa rebuilds from the pandemic, investing in the fight against malaria and NTDs will make health care systems more resilient and support longer-term pandemic preparedness. Ending malaria and NTDs must be central components of our response to COVID-19. The right combination of investment and innovation will enhance our ability to prevent, detect and respond to future pandemics.
To achieve this requires political will and leadership. We know what we need to do. But we must unlock the potential for a world free of malaria and NTDs, while improving the lives of millions. I have seen the central role that leadership plays. Rwanda is internationally recognized for its success in providing comprehensive access to health care, thanks to its political focus.
The Kigali Summit was a pivotal moment. With the leading epidemic countries, civil society, the private sector and nonprofit organizations must work together to ensure progress against these preventable diseases, especially as we draw lessons from our response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Governments must coordinate efforts from all stakeholders and partners, channeling them into a common goal: building better healthcare systems across the continent.
Furthermore, donor countries must meet their commitments in the fight against the burden of disease. Prioritizing and mobilizing commitments including a fully-resourced Global Fund this year is essential if we are to defeat HIV, TB and malaria, and ensure a healthy future, safer and more equal for all.
As African countries continue to work to protect their populations against COVID-19, now must be a priority to invest in eliminating malaria and NTDs, while capitalizing on that investment. there to protect against future threats and build healthier health care systems and healthier African populations .
Simply put, the future of Africa depends on its people. A healthy population can usher in stronger economic growth and a better future for all.
© Inter Press Service (2022) – All rights reservedOrigin: Inter Press Service
