Latest news with #LulRiek
The Star
14 hours ago
- Health
- The Star
Africa CDC urges countries to strengthen public health systems
HARARE, June 25 (Xinhua) -- The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on Wednesday urged African countries to bolster their public health systems in preparation for future pandemics and health threats. Speaking at the opening of the Fourth Annual Southern Africa National Public Health Institute (NPHI) Meeting held in the Zimbabwean capital of Harare on Wednesday, Africa CDC Regional Director Lul Riek said pandemics such as COVID-19, Marburg virus and mpox exposed weaknesses in the continent's health mechanisms, policies and interventions, hence the need for Africa to build robust public health systems. "Based on the lessons that we have learned, it is necessary for every country in Africa to have a functional, operational NPHI," Riek said, adding that the capacity gaps identified during the previous pandemics led the Africa CDC to formulate a new public health order to prepare Africa for future pandemics and health threats. According to Riek, the new public health order hinges on five pillars, namely strengthening NPHIs, expanding local manufacturing, enhancing the public health workforce, increasing domestic health financing, and fostering action-oriented partnerships. "Our ultimate goal is to ensure that all 55 African Union members have functional NPHIs capable of driving progress toward a healthier, more resilient Africa," Riek said, noting that NPHIs play a vital role in promoting health, preventing disease, and protecting populations. He told Xinhua in a follow-up interview that 10 out of the 16 Southern African Development Community members have functional NPHIs and urged remaining countries, including Zimbabwe, to establish the institutes. Desta Tiruneh, the World Health Organization (WHO) representative for Zimbabwe, noted that NPHIs are crucial in bolstering the resilience of Africa's public health systems amid declining external funding for the health sector. "NPHIs have a pivotal role to play. As national centers of public health expertise and coordination, their role in research, training, capacity building, and emergency response coordination is indispensable," said Tiruneh, reaffirming the WHO's support to African countries in building resilient and sustainable public health systems.
The Star
14 hours ago
- Health
- The Star
Africa CDC commends health partnerships with China
HARARE, June 25 (Xinhua) -- An official from the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on Wednesday hailed China as an excellent partner for the regional health organization. On the sidelines of the fourth annual regional national public health institute (NPHI) meeting for Southern Africa in the Zimbabwean capital of Harare, Africa CDC Regional Director Lul Riek told Xinhua that China has offered much support for building health infrastructure. "China is an excellent partner for the work of the Africa CDC. Our beautiful emergency operations and disease control facility in Ethiopia was made possible because of the partnership that we have with China," said Riek. The Africa CDC headquarters, recognized as a flagship project in China-Africa public health cooperation, was officially inaugurated in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, in 2023. Riek called for more partnership with China in supporting African countries with public health infrastructure, training capacity for laboratories and the building of NPHIs. During the meeting, Riek also urged African countries to strengthen their public health systems in case of future pandemics and health threats. "Our ultimate goal is to ensure that all 55 African Union members have functional NPHIs capable of driving progress toward a healthier, more resilient Africa," Riek said.
