The Pan-African Parliament has passed a resolution calling for a stronger role for the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in coordinating the continent's response to public health threats. The move comes in the wake of repeated health crises, including the mpox outbreak in August 2024.
The resolution, adopted by the PAP Committee on Health, Labour and Social Affairs, chaired by Ghanaian legislator Frank Annoh-Dompreh, seeks deeper cooperation between the Pan-African Parliament and Africa CDC to strengthen disease prevention, emergency response, and health security across the continent.
Strengthening Disease Prevention and Emergency Response
The PAP has called on African Union member states to accelerate the integration of Africa CDC frameworks into national laws. These include areas such as biosafety and biosecurity, national public health institutes, legal preparedness for health emergencies, data governance, local manufacturing of health products, infection prevention and control, and cross-border health cooperation.
The committee also reaffirmed the Abuja Declaration commitment requiring countries to allocate at least 15% of their national budgets to the health sector. It has urged member states to establish statutory contingency funds to support emergency health responses.
Enhancing Health Data Systems and Continental Cooperation
The PAP has encouraged faster ratification and implementation of the Treaty establishing the African Medicines Agency and the AU Model Law on Medical Products Regulation. According to the PAP, these measures are necessary to improve Africa's ability to manage health emergencies and reduce dependence on external support.
The committee has also requested continued technical support from Africa CDC for the Pan-African Parliament and national parliaments on pandemic preparedness and intervention. It has proposed a Memorandum of Understanding between the two institutions to provide a framework for cooperation through the Committee on Health and Social Affairs.
A Stronger Partnership for Health Security and Sovereignty
The PAP said strengthening the partnership with Africa CDC is essential to delivering the Africa Health Security and Sovereignty Agenda. This agenda is built around stronger public health governance, expanded health product manufacturing, investment in health workers, increased domestic health financing, and trusted health data.
The Africa CDC's mandate has become increasingly important following repeated health crises, including HIV, Ebola, COVID-19, mpox, Marburg, and recurring cholera outbreaks. The agency's authority to declare Public Health Emergencies of Continental Security was exercised for the first time in August 2024 during the mpox outbreak.
The Pan-African Parliament's resolution is a significant step towards strengthening Africa's health security and sovereignty. It remains to be seen how member states will respond to the call for deeper cooperation with Africa CDC. However, one thing is clear: the continent's ability to manage health emergencies and reduce dependence on external support will depend on the success of this partnership.
Source: Joy Online
