Africa/health: Morocco calls for coordinated mobilization to safeguard Africa’s interests

Morocco has called for a coordinated mobilization of leaders and intensive action to safeguard Africa’s interests in the global response to pandemics.

The call was launched from Geneva by Omar Hilale, Morocco’s permanent representative to the UN in New York, in his capacity as the UN General Assembly facilitator for the high-level meeting and political declaration on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response to be held on September 20 in New York at the level of Heads of State and Government.

Hilale, who was speaking at the Special Session of the Health Working Group of the Ad Hoc Technical Committee on Health and Population, co-organized by the African Union Commission and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Africa (CDC Africa), described the event as a historic opportunity to defend African interests and priorities in this health context, especially in view of the presence of an African director general at the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) and Morocco’s role as facilitator of the political declaration of the high-level meeting on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.

Hilale stressed the need to mobilize African heads of state so that the continent does not face gaps and failures as in the past, as well as the imperative to remain united to achieve better results for the continent, which is called to reinforce the central role of WHO as a central player in the global health architecture.

The diplomat commended CDC Africa’s wise and timely initiative to establish the Informal Committee of African Negotiators on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response. He also expressed his gratitude and honor to be a member and chief political negotiator of the Committee.

Regarding the high-level meeting, scheduled for September 20 in New York, Hilale noted that it is the first of its kind to be held at the UN General Assembly.