I am honoured to deliver these remarks on behalf of Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization.
Ambassador Teta Banks,
Your Excellency former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf,
Ambassador Andrew Young,
Ambassador Johnnie Carson,
Excellencies, dear colleagues and friends from Africa and the diaspora,
I am honoured and humbled to receive the African Unity Nelson Mandela Award, and I am deeply sorry that I cannot be with you in person tonight to receive it.
In 2013, during my time as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, I had the privilege of chairing the African Union’s Executive Council of Foreign Ministers when we adopted Agenda 2063, the 50-year development blueprint for Africa.
Since then, we have seen significant improvements in health on our continent.
Life expectancy has increased, maternal and child mortality have dropped dramatically, and the epidemics of HIV, malaria and tuberculosis have been pushed back.
But we still face many challenges: conflict and insecurity, outbreaks, inequality, the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases and mental health disorders, the effects of climate change, and the ever-present threat of pandemics.
Severe cuts to international aid this year have also caused severe disruptions to health services in many of our countries.
But I am confident that in the crisis lies an opportunity – an opportunity to leave behind the era of aid dependency and embrace a new era of health sovereignty, based on domestic resources.
Africa does not want charity; Africa wants fair terms.
Finally, I would also like to recognize Heman Bekele, and congratulate him on his outstanding contribution to health.
As a fellow Ethiopian, I am very proud of you Heman – your scientific curiosity and your passion to help others is an example not just for young people, but for all people.
Thank you all once again for this award, which I accept not only on my own behalf, but on behalf of the dedicated, talented people I am proud to call my colleagues.
In Africa and everywhere, they are working to fulfil the vision that the nations of the world had when they created WHO in 1948: the highest attainable standard of health for all people, not as a luxury for some, but a right for all.
That is the right for which I – and my WHO colleagues – will continue to work.
I ask you all to support WHO in this effort.
Thank you very much.