COVID vaccine: Akinwumi Adesina cautions Africa against dependence on developed countries
Akinwumi Adesina, president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), says there is an urgent need for Africa to build a healthcare defence mechanism.
Adesina said this during a speech at the recent African Union (AU) summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Addressing African leaders, he cautioned against the continent’s dependence on foreign countries for healthcare support.
“It has been a global economic cyclone. Africa witnessed a decline in GDP growth of 2.1 percent in 2020, its lowest in 20 years. Africa’s GDP fell by $165 billion. Over 30 million jobs were lost and over 26 million people fell into extreme poverty,” he said.
“I wish to commend the leadership efforts of the African Union, and our Heads of State and Government, for the critical roles you have played in dealing with the pandemic and the socio-economic challenges in its wake.
“Today, thanks to these efforts 11 percent of the population has been fully vaccinated, and another 16 percent has been partially vaccinated.
“However, while developed countries have moved to booster shots, Africa is still struggling with basic shots.
“Your Excellencies, we must learn from this experience. Africa can no longer outsource the security of the lives of its 1.4 billion people to the benevolence of others.
“We must secure African lives! It is time your Excellencies, to build Africa’s healthcare defence system.”
The AfDB chief said the continent needs $484 billion over the next three years to address the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and support economic recovery.
Adesina outlined three strategic priorities for an African healthcare defence system: building quality healthcare infrastructure; developing the continent’s pharmaceutical industry; and increasing the capacity of vaccine manufacturing.
He added that the AfDB plans to invest $3 billion to support Africa’s pharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturing capacity.
Reading Akinwumi Adesina comments on the dependence on developed countries is right on target. However, if they want to accomplish that the leadership has to realize one of the first principles in business on disruptive technology that develops solutions but has no pedigree. They have to look and be accessible to those that are trying to address the condition. As if you look closely the west talks about a big game about their commitment to the African continent but the reality just talks. The pandemic has clearly illustrated their true colors not only on the vaccine situation but medical tourism and not to mention the hypocrisy of the west on the nursing shortage to name a few. They talk a big game about their commitment to the betterment of the lives in these countries and at the same time they suck out one of their biggest assets nurses and doctors. This not only has a detrimental effect on the economy of these countries but major socio-economic consequences.
We developed the only interactive preventive system to address the critical issues in healthcare especially in rural areas over the past 14 years. But even though it was not developed in Africa our modus operandi is to implement in joint ventures with local partners and as such make it a local project.
The solution not only addresses the critical healthcare issues especially in remote areas where there is a lack of infrastructure but it was also structured to provide not only employment but business opportunities as well.
But Adesina and his team has to put their money where their mouth is as I can not tell you have many times over the years we tried to reach out to their organization to at least allow us to demonstrate the relevance of our solution
Sincerely
Professor David Hold