Your Excellency Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal,
Your Excellency State Secretary Awa Coll-Seck, my sister,
Mr Bruno Cohen, Chair of the Galien Foundation,
Excellencies, colleagues, friends, brothers and sisters,
It’s an honour to join you again this year.
First of all, I would like to congratulate Your Excellency, your government and the people of Senegal for your response to COVID-19.
Senegal has shown that with leadership and commitment to basic public health, this virus can be stopped.
We also congratulate you for the significant investments you have made in mitigating the socio-economic impact of the pandemic. This is very important.
We know that in the last couple of weeks there has been a slight increase in cases, and I know you will remain vigilant.
I also very much appreciate Your Excellency’s strong commitment to universal health coverage, and for your leadership at home, regionally and globally.
I am especially grateful that this edition of the forum marks the launch of The Galien Prize Africa.
WHO welcomes the establishment of this prize, which promotes research, innovation and commercialization in Africa of pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical diagnostic products.
WHO has prioritized innovation as part of our transformation.
The COVID-19 pandemic has also reaffirmed the importance of research and innovation.
The pandemic is having an unprecedented impact on lives, livelihoods, economies and communities around the world.
So far, most African countries have succeeded in preventing or containing widespread community transmission.
Nevertheless, more than 2.2 million cases of COVID-19 and more than 53,000 deaths have been reported to WHO from African Union Member States.
In recent weeks we have seen a concerning increase in cases and deaths.
All countries must remain vigilant and there can be no place for complacency. The virus is still circulating and most people remain susceptible.
This is a critical juncture in the pandemic for Africa.
As we have learned from our experience with polio, Ebola, cholera and many other diseases, engaged and empowered communities are fundamental to response and prevention.
As you know, the first vaccines against COVID-19 have been approved and began being rolled out in the United Kingdom this week.
Combined with other proven public health tools, vaccines offer real hope of being able to end the pandemic.
I want to assure you that WHO is totally committed to ensuring that Africa enjoys equitable access to these powerful tools, as global public goods.
That is why WHO and our international partners created the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator and the COVAX facility – to develop vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics fast, and deliver them fairly.
Even though the worst health effects have so far been avoided in our continent Africa, the social and economic consequences have been severe.
Access to essential health services have been disrupted, including services to prevent and treat communicable diseases and immunization, and hunger is on the rise.
Many countries in Africa can take pride in the fact that they have improved their capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to emerging diseases and public health emergencies.
However, considerable gaps remain.
Social inequalities, weak governance, and the politicization of public health – all of these put people at risk.
There are also critical gaps in infection prevention and control, case management, logistics and supply, testing, risk communications, community engagement, health workforce, financing, capacity at points of entry, emergency response, and critical infrastructure for water, sanitation and hygiene.
WHO is working with the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to support Member States in strengthening national capacities for health security and to scale-up multisectoral approaches to emergency preparedness.
We urge countries to strengthen their preparedness in three key ways:
First, by building their national capacity for health emergency, supported by sustainable investment;
Second, by mitigating the risks that drive the emergence and re-emergence of diseases at the animal-human interface, through a One Health approach;
And third, by strengthening the analysis and use of data on national preparedness gaps.
The pandemic also highlights why the Addis Ababa Call to Action on investing in health signed by African Union countries last year is so important.
Investing in health is not an optional extra; it is the foundation of stable, prosperous and peaceful societies and economies.
But rising health spending and falling tax revenues suggest that many countries may be heading towards a new debt crisis.
I join the call to the international community and international financial institutions to consider measures such as debt relief or restructuring, so that health and other social spending can be sustained in Africa.
By working together in solidarity, we are all stronger.
The lesson is clear: In the end, a strong health system, and strong public health infrastructure, are the best defence against health emergencies.
The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented crisis, but it can also be a catalyst for building the healthier, safer, fairer and more sustainable Africa we all want.
Merci beaucoup, Mr President, and very honoured to join you. Thank you so much for your leadership. Thank you.