Addis ababa: Africa and the Caribbean must strengthen their capacity to safeguard the health and well-being of their people, Vice President of Ethiopia’s ruling Prosperity Party and Head of the Democratic System Building Center with the rank of Deputy Prime Minister, Adem Farah, urged.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, the 2nd Africa-Caribbean Health Ministers’ Meeting kicked off in Addis Ababa under the theme ‘Forward Together: One Voice, One Future.’ Speaking at the occasion, Adem Farah emphasized that the COVID-19 pandemic had highlighted the vulnerabilities of global systems and the risks associated with the unequal distribution of essential health supplies, underscoring the importance of building self-reliant health systems.
Adem stressed the necessity of health sovereignty, from vaccine production to essential medicines, resilient supply chains, and regional manufacturing. He highlighted the need for advancing shared commitments to self-reliance, emphasizing that timely access to health is a basic human right. He urged for accelerated efforts towards universal health coverage and achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3.
He pointed out that strong health systems are foundational to prosperous economies. Investing in primary health care, he argued, creates a robust foundation for health systems. Prevention at the primary level builds trust and makes the promise of health for all a reality, not through speeches, but in the daily lives of people.
Adem explained the potential of empowering community health workers and leveraging digital and technological innovation to provide equitable, affordable, and quality health services to every citizen. He noted that health should be viewed not merely as an expense, but as a critical investment in a nation’s people, productivity, stability, and future.
He called for mobilizing domestic resources, developing innovative financing mechanisms, and advocating for global fairness in development financing. Adem also highlighted the impact of the climate crisis on Africa and the Caribbean, stressing the importance of leading the call for climate justice and ensuring commitments are matched with concrete actions and resources.