Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Monday, October 21, 2019. The 2018/19 Fellows of Chatham House African Public Health Leadership Programme undertook a study tour of the African Union Commission (AUC), to familiarize themselves with the work of the African Center for Diseases Control (CDC), and interact with the leadership of the AUC. The delegation was led by Mr. Adebusuyi Adeyemi, Assistant Fellowship Director, Chatham House Centre on Global Health Security.

The team also called on H.E. Kwesi Quartey, Deputy Chairperson of the AUC, to brief him on their areas of expertise and the specific projects they were working on.

In welcoming them, H.E Quartey expressed admiration of their remarkable determination in applying themselves to meet the health needs of the continent.

The group raised concerns about the low investment in the health sector in their various countries, and were keen to learn what initiatives the Union had in place to address the situation.

In his response, the Deputy Chairperson referred to Agenda 2063, noting that Goal 3 of Aspiration 1 focused on a healthy and well-nourished citizenry by expanding access to quality health care services. He also stated that the African Health Strategy (AHS 2016-2030) and other Charters provided frameworks to guide Member States in the implementation of health Policies.

H.E Quartey also disclosed that the Commission, through its partners and Africa CDC had established three (3) regional CDCs mandated to facilitate the establishment of robust national Public Health Centers. He used the occasion to commend the African CDC for the leadership shown in containing the Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Deputy Chairperson acknowledged that, despite the policy frameworks and humble successes achieved by the AU, a lot more needed to be done to make health affordable and accessible to the citizens.

He urged the Fellows to keep up their good work and to be a voice of conscience in their various countries advocating for change in the health sector.

The Chatham House Center on Global Security instituted the African Public Health Leaders Fellowship to train and mentor dynamic, creative and driven individuals to contribute to global health security.

For further information contact
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dic@africa-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

Esther Azaa Tankou, Directorate of Information and Communication, AUC Tel. +251 911361185, E-mail: yamboue@africa-union.org

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