Your Excellency my brother, Dr Zwelini Mkhize, Minister of Health
Your Excellency Dr Joe Phaahla, Deputy Minister of Health
And my two sisters WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti,
And Resident Coordinator of the UN in South Africa, Ms Nardos Bekele-Thomas,
Director-General of Health, Dr Sandile Buthelezi,
Excellencies, dear colleagues and friends,
I would like to express my gratitude to the Government of South Africa for hosting this ceremony welcoming the WHO experts that will be supporting the Ministry of Health and other agencies in their response to COVID-19.
WHO stands with the government of South Africa in its effort to bring the spread of COVID-19 under control.
Our long-standing cooperation with South Africa on a range of issues, from HIV to maternal health to universal health coverage, gives us a firm grounding to work together for this latest challenge.
I want to especially recognize the role that President Ramaphosa, who is also the chair of the Africa Union, has played in COVID-19 preparedness and response in the African Region.
I also want to commend him and South Africa for its efforts and participation with the Access for COVID-19 Tools Accelerator and in the Solidarity Trials, which will facilitate the development, production and equitable access of critical vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics.
As indicated by DG Buthelezi and also RD Moeti, South Africa is one of the hardest hit in Africa. The government’s prompt and robust response to the pandemic of course gives us reason for optimism, as cases have recently been decreasing. And anything can be turned around, but now is not the time to let our guard down.
And as public and social distancing measures are lifted, it is critical that we remain vigilant.
Even as we are dealing with the immediate response, we must focus our efforts on mitigating the long-term effects of the pandemic, including major disruptions to essential health services, schooling, nutrition and livelihoods.
In response to the request for support from the Government, WHO has established a three level COVID-19 Policy and Technical Support Group for South Africa, as already being described by Regional Director Dr Moeti, so I don’t want to go into details on that.
Dr Moeti and also Dr Mike Ryan will co-chair the team. And of course, we will have a range of experts from the three levels involved.
Finally, the Ministry of Health and its partners have shown great commitment and diligence in their efforts to curbing the spread of COVID-19. We hope that these experts can supplement and expand your efforts.
On behalf of WHO, I would like to convey my best wishes for a successful mission to the Ministry of Health, the visiting and virtually deployed experts, and to all our partners.
By working together in solidarity, we can bring this pandemic under control.
Thank you again for this opportunity, I am very honoured to join you today.
Thank you.