Omamo calls for strengthened Africa CDC at AU pre-summit forum » Capital News
NAIROBI, Kenya, February 4 – Foreign Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo has called for the strengthening of the Africa Centers for Disease Control (Africa CDC) in a bid to improve the continent’s preparedness to deal with emerging health crises and future.
Omamo made the call on Thursday during the 40th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council in Addis Ababa.
She highlighted the need to transform Africa CDC, which was launched on 31 January 2017 as a specialized technical institution of the African Union, to fit its purpose “not only to be able to respond effectively, effectively and in a timely manner to the current pandemic, but also to any other epidemics that may strike in the future.
“While we may not want to experience another pandemic like COVID-19, it would be very unrealistic for us to rule out an outbreak of another pandemic, either regionally or globally. In order to be fully prepared to respond, we need to ensure that Africa CDC is properly designed to be up to the task and fit for purpose,” Amb. Omamo said.
The Executive Council held deliberations on 2-3 February to deliberate on a number of issues in preparation for the 35th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union to be held on 5-6 February 2022.
The Council considered a number of issues including: the full operationalization of the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), African candidates and applications to the international system and the inclusion of Kiswahili as one of the languages work of the African Union.
The Assembly will mark the first physical summit to be held since COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic in 2020.
Statutory meetings of the African Union are being held under strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols in line with Africa CDC guidance on safety protocols on COVID-19, including limited attendance of delegates per meeting, daily testing of all delegates, proof of complete vaccination among others.
Kenya’s delegation to the AU Assembly will be led by President Uhuru Kenyatta who will be accompanied by Amb. Omamo, Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani and Ambassador Jean Kamau, Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the AU.
The theme of this year’s Summit is: Building Resilience in Nutrition and Food Security on the African Continent: “Strengthening Agriculture, Accelerating Human Capital, Social and Economic Development”.
At least 25 African Heads of State and Government are expected to attend the summit which will consider and adopt key reports including the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) progress report to be presented by President Kenyatta as a champion. from ALMA.
In addition, President Kenyatta will also present the agenda for the African Union Peace and Security Council for the month of February 2022, of which Kenya is the President of the month.
The ALMA report provides an update on the state of malaria on the African continent, progress towards the targets set under the Catalytic Framework to end AIDS, TB and eliminate malaria in Africa by 2030.
The report will also include activities undertaken to mitigate the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on malaria services.
