Written by: Badr Ahmed

African heads of state and government held a high-level virtual meeting at the invitation of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the African Union to discuss ways to address the outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus in a number of African countries, most notably the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.

The meeting focused on strengthening the continental response to the current health crisis, by supporting national efforts to contain the spread of the disease, raising levels of preparedness and readiness in countries at risk of transmission, and mobilizing joint African coordination aimed at protecting lives and preserving public health across the continent.

A virtual meeting of African leaders to address the Ebola outbreak and strengthen health security on the continent

The participants stressed that cross-border diseases and epidemics represent a common challenge that requires close cooperation among African countries, emphasizing that health security can only be achieved through building strong health systems capable of responding quickly to emergencies, developing effective early warning mechanisms, and promoting scientific cooperation and the exchange of information and experiences among countries and relevant health institutions.

The leaders also discussed the importance of uniting efforts and resources to address current and future health threats, with a focus on strengthening epidemiological surveillance capabilities, improving health infrastructure, and supporting training and qualification programs for health sector workers, in order to reduce the spread of infectious diseases and respond effectively to any potential outbreaks.

In this context, the Republic of Botswana renewed its commitment to working alongside sister African countries and international partners to strengthen the continent’s health security system and build more resilient national and regional capacities to cope with health crises.

Botswana stressed that strengthening cooperation and solidarity among African countries is the cornerstone of protecting the continent’s people from increasing health risks, emphasizing that advance preparedness, joint coordination and investment in the health sector are crucial factors to ensure Africa’s ability to face current and future health challenges efficiently and effectively, thus saving lives and promoting development and stability across the continent.