- Experts with World Health Organization (WHO) have identified ways to further strengthen way national health systems in Africa could function during and after emergencies such as disease outbreaks, flooding and malnutrition.
Sub-Saharan Africa is where most of world’s humanitarian crises are said to be occurring.
According to WHO, this year alone, more than 95 per cent of African countries have experienced a humanitarian crisis, adding this makes it more important to strengthen efforts to not only respond to emergencies but to prevent them from happening or be properly prepared when they do come.
“If we can continue to improve how countries in Africa prepare for and respond to disasters, the health of millions of people will be improved and secured,” said Omar Khatib, African regional adviser for WHO’s Emergency and Humanitarian Action (EHA) programme.
Improving how countries prepare for recurrent disasters was a key focus of the annual EHA review that brought together about 50 WHO humanitarian experts from throughout Africa to Zanzibar, Tanzania, beginning on 6 October.
“This meeting has identified ways to further strengthen the way national health systems can function during and after a crisis,” Dr Khatib said.
“Our goal as humanitarians is to reduce avoidable suffering and death. To do so we must keep improving the way in which we work with countries, help countries to strengthen their capacities and build stronger ties with the donor community to ensure they continue their valuable support to alleviating the health problems faced by millions of Africans,” he added.
Dr Khatib emphasised need to continue working with other WHO units to strengthen Africa’s capacities to be able to meet persistent and future emergencies, such as annual flooding and drought, communicable disease control and malnutrition related to the global food security crisis.
Participating in gathering, which WHO considers “the most important meeting for the organization’s health crisis team on the continent,” were experts from Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Central African Republic, Burundi, Guinea, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Liberia, Kenya, Niger, Chad, Madagascar, Botswana, Rwanda, Mozambique, Gabon, Burkina Faso, Congo and Algeria.
Also attending weeklong meeting were members of Health Action in Crises cluster from WHO headquarters in Geneva.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.