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Operationalization of the African Medicines Agency (AMA)
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In February 2019, African Heads of State and governments adopted the Treaty for the establishment of the African Medicines Agency (AMA) [Assembly Decision Assembly/AU/Dec.735 (XXXII)].
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To date twenty-nine (29) member states have signed the AMA Treaty and and twenty-two (22) member states have ratified and deposited the legal instrument of ratification at the Commission.
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The Treaty entered into force on 5 November 2021, one month after the deposit of the 15th instrument of ratification.
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As a specialized Agency of the African Union, AMA will enhance the capacity of State Parties as well as the African Union-recognized Regional Economic Communities to regulate medical products and technologies in the continent. It will also coordinate ongoing regulatory initiatives and systems.
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The Commission has remained committed to supporting the operationalization of the AMA at the earliest. To this end, the Commission has made laudable efforts in supporting the operationalization of the Agency. Among them;
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Conducted an assessment of the eight (8) Member States (Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Rwanda, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, and Zimbabwe) that submitted offers to host the Agency;
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Organized the First Ordinary Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the AMA Treaty from 1-2 June 2022 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
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During the First Ordinary Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the AMA Treaty, the Conference of the States Parties established and adopted their Rules of Procedure as well as elected their Bureau.
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Additionally, the Conference of the States Parties deliberated on the Assessment Report on the hosting of the AMA Headquarters and made recommendations for the consideration of the 41st Ordinary Session of the Executive Council.
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The 41st Ordinary Session of the Executive Council shall decide on the host country for the Headquarters of the AMA.
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The Commission will be providing the requisite support to the States Parties and the host country in the operationalization of the AMA at the earliest.
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The Commission further encourages all its member states to sign and ratify the Treaty for the establishment of AMA in the interest of public health, safety and security. The Treaty is available for signature at the Headquarters of the Commission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
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African Union Theme of the year for 2022 on Nutrition
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The AU Assembly in February 2022 endorsed and launched 2022 as the African
Union Year of Nutrition under the theme, “Strengthening Resilience in Nutrition and
Food Security on The African Continent: Strengthening Agro-Food Systems, Health and Social Protection Systems for the Acceleration of Human, Social and Economic Capital Development.
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African member states have made significant development achievements in the last few decades in addressing food security and nutrition challenges. However, the combined effects of COVID-19, climate change, and armed conflict, as well as the rising costs of food and fuel driven by the Ukraine-Russian war, are producing a concerning – yet silent – nutrition crisis across Africa.
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Urgent actions are needed to ensure that we preserve gains made over the past years to ensure the lives, well-being, and prosperity of millions of Africans, including future generations, are not at risk.
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The declaration “Strengthening Resilience in Nutrition and Food Security on The African Continent” as the African Union theme of the year in 2022 is a crucial opportunity to provide solutions to the current nutrition crisis.
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Key priorities of the theme include:
Priority 1: Strengthening data management and information systems, knowledge generation, and dissemination to inform decision-making.
Priority 2: Advocacy for increased commitment and nutrition Investment.
Priority 3: Partnerships and mutual accountability for nutrition.
Priority 4: Enhancing institutional capacity and enabling environment for nutrition, for intensified action and delivery of results and impact.
The African Union Commission Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and
Social Development is working closely with other AUC Departments, the African Union AU Nutrition Champion, H.M King Letsie III of Kingdom of Lesotho, Government of Cote d’Ivoire, RECs, UN Partners, International Organization and other partners to implement the action and implementation plan of the theme of the year. The progress report for the period February – June 2022 has been presented at the Executive council with key recommendations going forward
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I call upon all the stakeholders working in all sectors of development to mainstream nutrition in their sectors as nutrition needs a multi-sectoral approach to ensure the human, economic and social capital Development of our population.
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We further call upon member states to implement the theme of the year priorities at the national level.
III. Activities relating to Migration, Refugees, and IDPS
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Our continent is also faced with challenges related to migration and internally displaced persons. These challenges are a result of governance, climate change and conflict. To this end the Commission has in place policies on migrants, internally displaced personas and good governance and is supporting the member states in the implementation of these strategies, frameworks and policies.
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The recently concluded Humanitarian Summit held in Malabo at the end of May this year, is a demonstration of the commitment of African leaders and stakeholders to respond to the humanitarian situation of the continent. During the summit, AU Member States and partners made important pledges that amount to 170 million dollars to enable the continent respond to the humanitarian crises.
