By Lerato Ndlovu
African Leaders have called for international support as their nations increase local production of medical equipment in the face of COVID 19 global pandemic.
Heads of state held a follow up teleconference on the 3rd of April with Chairperson of the African Union (AU) and South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa convening the discussion on the African response to corona virus.
The Bureau members who participated in the teleconference included Presidents; Emmerson Mnangagwa (Zimbabwe), Paul Kagame (Rwanda), Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya), Felix Tshisekedi (Democratic Republic of Congo), Abdel Fattah el-Sisi (Egypt), Macky Sall (Senegal), Ibrahim Boubacar Keita (Mali) and Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. With presentations from President Emmanuel Macron of France, World Health Organisation (WHO), Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The Bureau of Heads of State and Government commended the able stewardship of exemplary leadership of Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus the Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), in leading the global response to the pandemic. He emphasised the importance of acting now to test and to guarantee equitable access to test kits, masks and personal protective equipment (PPEs), vaccines and therapeutics as soon as they become available.
In the communique they called for international help while scaling up production in regards to fighting the pandemic.
“The Heads of States highlighted the unprecedented threat that Covid-19 presents to the health of African citizens and to the continent’s hard-won developmental and economic gains, also recognising the imperative to establish humanitarian and trade corridors in a spirit of African solidarity and integration given the urgent need for medical supplies and equipment, the Heads of states called for international cooperation and support while up-scaling local production on the continent.”
Dr John Nkengasong, Director of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), gave a continental update which highlighted a sharp increase in Covid-19 confirmed cases in the continent.
“The Heads of States noted with satisfaction progress made in operationalising the African Union Covid-19 Response Fund established on 26 March 2020 to which members pledged the sum of US$12.5 million and an additional US$4.5million to the Africa CDC, It was agreed to establish continental ministerial coordination committees on Health, Finance and Transport to coordinate in order to support the comprehensive continental strategy.”
“The Heads of States underscored the need for a comprehensive and coordinated continental approach, and to speak with one voice on Africa’s priorities. Cognizant of the devastating socio-economic and political impact of the pandemic on African countries, the Bureau reiterated the need for rapid and concrete support as pledged by the G20 and other international partners, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.”
At present, Zimbabwe is stated under the list of countries that are not eligible to receive funding from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank because of unpaid debts.
The communique went on to say: “The Bureau also echoed the call for a comprehensive stimulus package for Africa, including, deferred payments, the immediate suspension of interest payments on Africa’s external public and private debt in order to create fiscal space for Covid-19 response measures. Lifesaving supplies including PPEs, masks, gowns, and ventilators and other support devices are urgently needed.”
They applauded the rapid action by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the Jack Ma Foundation in mobilising and distributing, with the support of the World Food Programme (WFP) and Africa CDC, over one million diagnostic tests, six million masks and 600,000 PPE items to all African Union member states in less than a week.
The communique stated that sanction imposed on Sudan and Zimbabwe should be lifted immediately and the need for special attention in regards to terrorist activities in the Sahel region and pledge solidarity with the countries in this region who have to fight the twin scourge of terrorism and COVID-19.
“The Heads of States and Government strongly urged for the immediate lifting of all economic sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe and Sudan to allow them to adequately respond to the pandemic and save lives,” it read. “The African Union has repeatedly called for the lifting of these punitive sanctions, which the Bureau consider intolerable and inhumane in the present context.”
President Macron was thanked for standing by Africa at the extraordinary G20 summit and for the proposals he raised regarding a comprehensive approach to mobilising international support for Africa’s health, economic, humanitarian, and medical research priorities, which are aligned with the in African position.
They also acknowledged the commitment of the People’s Republic of China for its support and solidarity with Africa.
