Time for Africa to take control of its own health

Opinion

In February 2019, the African Union Assembly unanimously decided to establish a continental regulatory body that would facilitate reliable access to medical products, including vaccines. This resulted in the treaty for the establishment of African Medicines Agency (AMA), who so far signed on Fully ratified by 28 AU member states and 17 by.

While progress has been slower than anticipated (the idea was first proposed over a decade ago), it is the focus of Africa’s move towards coordinated regulation of medical products, joint investment in regional research, development and manufacturing, and advanced quality control for safety. An important milestone in the journey. Bad medicines.

To some extent, it is safe to say that we have covid-19 pandemic Thanks to this renewed sense of urgency, that is forcing the continent to rethink its approach to health care and move from rhetoric to action. Like many other regions around the world, the pandemic caught hold of Africa unintentionally. This ranged from weak primary health care and excessive reliance on medical imports to insufficient human resources for health and structural inequalities that manifested as weak social security programs that left low-income populations within the continent’s health systems. Uncovered clear gaps and long overlooked risks. Even more vulnerable to the effects of Covid-19. Additionally, it revealed the centrality of basic public health interventions such as improved sanitation and hygiene, which have proven to be simple yet effective in fighting disease outbreaks.

Now, as Africa looks to recover from COVID-19, a lot of faith is being placed in the AMA (as with other institutions). Africa CDC) to ensure that the continent will never again be at the mercy of wealthy nations in times of health crisis.

At the top of the agenda for the AMA will be garnering greater support from African powerhouses such as Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya, which are among the 27 countries that have signed the treaty, despite efforts from leaders such as Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame. bring more countries in the bottom. This additional support will go a long way in enabling the agency to fulfill its mission to harmonize regulatory policies guiding the approval of new drugs, which are urgently needed in the wake of widespread vaccine injustices that are affecting millions of Africans. Continues to deny access to Survival. Kovid 19 Vaccines.

While the AMA is unlikely to solve the current COVID-19 vaccine crisis, it will help Africa achieve its ambitious Africa drug manufacturing scheme, which will provide commodity security.

Africa must no longer wait for “charities” that may not be forthcoming as wealthy nations focus on protecting their citizens. With strong political will and decisive, coordinated action, we can protect our people and strengthen health systems. African leaders have a responsibility to their citizens to expand access to safe, quality medicines and ensure the optimization of health systems to reduce morbidity and prevent avoidable death. This is especially important on a continent that produces only 2% About the drugs consumed by it and accounts about 42% Identified cases of counterfeit or substandard pharmaceuticals.

It’s time for Africa to take control of its health.

The AMA may be part of the armor that gets us to the Promised Land; A land where every African citizen has access to safe, reliable and affordable healthcare; Where countries have access to the fruits of a new public health order designed to manufacture vaccines, diagnostics, therapeutics and other essential medical resources, participate in regional trade unhindered, and protect the health and economic security of African peoples has capacity.

Through the AMA, Africa has a unique opportunity to apply important lessons from its history in preventing and responding to disease outbreaks – such as Ebola and COVID-19 – to harmonize regulatory systems and become the world’s most efficient regulator. To build one of the bodies. As African citizens, we must hold our leaders accountable for its success.