Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has stressed the importance of African leaders in developing an African health strategy that is proactive, resilient, and visionary.
He added that such a strategy must be capable of addressing both current needs arising from past pandemic experiences and fortifying the continent against future global health security threats.
The Governor gave the advice on Wednesday while speaking at the opening of the 10th African Conference on One Health and Biosecurity, themed, “From Ebola to COVID-19 and Beyond: Strengthening Africa’s Capacity to Address Emerging Global Health Security Threats” held at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Speaking through his deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, Governor Sanwo-Olu added that as the continent looks beyond the recent pandemic, African leaders must prioritise strengthening National Health systems, invest in primary healthcare, surveillance and emergency preparedness.
He emphasised further that Africa must ensure that it improves her community engagement and empowering local leaders, promoting health literacy and combating misinformation.
Sanwo-Olu emphasised that as Africa looks forward, her dedication and commitment to health security must be unwavering. As such, the state government is actively working on strengthening its biosecurity frameworks, enhancing disease surveillance systems and building a workforce that is prepared for the reality of a post COVID-19 world.
In addition, he said, the state is also committed to advancing local research, developing indigenous technology and supporting domestic production of vaccines and medical supplies, adding that his administration envisioned an Africa that is self-reliant, resilient and a leader in global health.
Earlier in his remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi emphasised the need for African countries to participate in the Synthetic Biology Research currently going on around the world.
He noted that a country with a good multi-agency biosecurity system will protect the welfare of its citizens, its natural resources and its biodiversity from harmful effects of pests, diseases, toxins and technology”.
In his goodwill message, the former Minister For Power and Housing, Babatunde Fashola urged African Governments and all relevant stakeholders to completely end open defecation and urination to reduce the level of contamination in the environment.
Fashola noted that the dissemination of adequate information and sensitisation will have a huge impact on the contagiousness of these pathogens in the course of physical movement.
Earlier in her opening remarks, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi called for stronger collaboration and the need to enhance the continent’s capacity to combat future outbreaks.
“There is the need to enhance surveillance and detection, building a resilient healthcare system, promoting community engagement and global participation, leveraging on technology and addressing social economic challenges should be prioritised”, she added.
The Chief Operating Officer, Global Emerging Pathogens Treatment Consortium (GET), Dr. Ayodotun Bobadoye stated that pandemics are not health issues but the environmental issues and it is therefore imperative that the people threat the environment with respect to prevent future outbreaks. Additionally, when people respect their environment, the environment will respect them back.
He said, “The cost of preventing further pandemic over the next decade is to protect the wildlife and forest would equate to just two per cent of the estimated financial damage caused by COVID-19”.
