Africa and China Leaders Partner on Health

 

Africa and Chinese health ministers have mapped out new efforts to identify sustainable solutions to health challenges, support Africa’s long-term health progress and shape the future of China-Africa health cooperation at the first-ever Ministerial Forum on China-Africa Health Development on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing.

Health ministers at the forum addressed key health challenges across Africa, including malaria, schistosomiasis, HIV/AIDS, reproductive health, immunization and vaccine preventable diseases. They demonstrated the highest level of political commitment to tackle Africa’s most pressing health challenges together.

Ministers present at the forum including key global health stakeholders with representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNICEF, African Union, World Bank, GAVI Alliance and Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria launched the Beijing Declaration of the Ministerial Forum on China-Africa Health Development, which sets a roadmap for jointly addressing key health challenges across Africa.

Under the Declaration, China and African countries will embark on new efforts to achieve sustainable, long-term health solutions, such as increasing partnerships on joint research and addressing the shortage of healthcare workers. China and African countries will engage further with private enterprise to encourage technology transfer and increase access to low-cost health technologies that meet high quality standards. The Declaration emphasizes that such health cooperation efforts will align with African countries’ priorities as well as national and regional development plans.

China and African countries would now be exploring opportunities to build on this progress and contribute new resources, innovation and leadership to drive health progress across Africa. They will work closely with key global health stakeholders to support China-Africa health cooperation, including multilateral organizations, international NGOs and civil society organizations.

The ministers agreed that China and African countries would also embark on new efforts to achieve sustainable, long-term health solutions, such as increasing partnerships on joint research and addressing the shortage of healthcare workers. They would engage further with private enterprise to encourage technology transfer and increase access to low-cost health technologies that meet high quality standards.

Senegal Health Minister, Awa Coll-Seck, said “The Beijing Declaration solidifies our governments’ commitments to developing and implementing Africa-led strategies that drive sustainable health progress and improve the lives of people across the continent.”

The China-Africa Forum for the Development of Health, Beijing2013, marked the 50th anniversary of China sending medical teams to African countries, with the first team sent to Algeria in 1963.

China has also worked with African partners and international organizations to build hospitals and malaria centers, trained health workers and increase access to antimalarial treatments and other health technologies. Academic institutions and private companies have also supported these efforts.

Dr. Li Bin, Minister of China’s National Health and Family Planning Commission, said “Chinese and African citizens live on the same planet, under the same sky. China’s partnership with Africa is rooted in humanitarianism.

For more on the Beijing Declaration:

http://www.who.int/medicines/areas/traditional/congress/beijing_declaration/en/

http://www.who.int/entity/medicines/areas/traditional/TRM_BeijingDeclarationEN.pdf