African blocs push joint funding, local production of medical supplies
Originally published by News – Capital FM — Read the original article →
NAIROBI,Kenya,Oct 17 — African regional economic blocs have called for a joint financing compact and coordinated procurement of medical supplies to strengthen health emergency preparedness and reduce reliance on fragmented regional responses to disease outbreaks.
The proposals are among recommendations adopted at a meeting in Lusaka, Zambia, where five Regional Economic Communities (RECs) called for stronger cross-border disease surveillance, expanded regional manufacturing and sustained investment in health security beyond existing project funding.
The meeting, held from October 14 to 16, brought together the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Southern African Development Community (SADC), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), East African Community (EAC) and Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), alongside continental and international health partners.
