BY Wasilat Azeez
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.
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