As Ministers of Health and representatives from African countries converge virtually for the Seventy-first session of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Regional Committee for Africa from August 24th – 26th, 2021, scaling up COVID-19 response; accelerating the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem; improving access to assistive health technologies; bolstering uptake of digital health will be discussed.
According to a Newsletter from the World Health Organisation (WHO), reinforcing an integrated response to tuberculosis, HIV, sexually transmitted infections and hepatitis; defeating meningitis by 2030; sustainable financing of WHO; response and polio transition in the WHO African Region will also be addressed at the session.
The Regional Committee is the Organization’s decision-making body and the gathering is the premier meeting on public health in Africa, convening 47 Health Ministers once a year to discuss and endorse regional policies, activities and financial plans to improve people’s health and well-being.
The statement also reveals that over 400 delegates, including WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Gebreyesus, WHO Regional Director for Africa, Representatives of United Nations (UN) Agencies, Funds and Programmes, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, civil society, bilateral and multilateral organizations and other development partners will participate in the annual flagship event.
Discussions on August 24, 2021 will focus on Global strategy on digital health in the WHO African Region and the COVID-19 response in the WHO African Region.
While “Improving access to assistive technology” will lead discussion on the 25th, the 26th will see discussions focused on “Strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem in the WHO African Region”, followed by a virtual Press Conference.
Later on, participants will shift their focus to the issue of “Improving Healthy Ageing in the African Region”.
