Covid-19 & Africa
March 23, 2021
At the US House of Representatives, Dr. Kaberuka urges the need of equity and partnership
“A return to normalcy and economic growth in Africa depends on equal access to vaccines against Covid-19” and “Africa doesn’t ask for charity, but for equity and partnership” These are some of the essential messages that Dr. Donald Kaberuka delivered, on 17 March 2021, to the US House of Representatives’ Committee on Foreign Affairs (Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organization).
Dr. Kaberuka appeared, via video link, in his capacity as African Union special envoy on Covid-19 and member of the African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team. He emphasized the financial gap Africa faces due to the Covid 19 pandemic and underlined five areas where the support of the US and the international community is vital:
1. Acquisition of vaccines to enable vaccination of 60% of the population.
2. Support on the logistics and roll out of the vaccines
3. Strengthening Africa CDC
4. Financing of national health systems and build resilience against future pandemics
5. Expanding the ability and capacity to manufacture vaccines and related equipment in Africa.
Other witnesses participating to the subcommittee hearing were Dr John N. Nkengasong (Director of Africa Center of Disease Control and Prevention, CDC) and The Honorable Kip E. Tom (Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture)
Full hearing is available here
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