–As WHO Director General Hails Global Support To WHO Funding
IPNEWS: Liberia’s Health Minister, Dr. Louis Kpoto, has been elected as one of the Vice Chairs of the 74th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa currently taking place in Brazzaville, Congo.
Dr. Louise M. Kpoto, recently constituted “National Health Sector Task Force” to build a healthcare system that operates with transparency and accountability, focusing on quality patient care and provision of a conducive working environment for dedicated service providers in the health sector.
The Taskforce comprises the Liberia Medical and Dental Council, Liberia Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Authority (LMHRA), the Liberia Pharmacy Board and the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA)
Others on the taskforce are the Ministry of Justice, the National Health Workers Union of Liberia (NAHWUOL), the Independent Health Taskforce of Liberia, the Minister of Health Ex- Officio, and the Chief Pharmacist, Republic of Liberia – (Secretary to the board).
The Chairman of the board of directors of the Liberia Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Authority (LMHRA), Dr. Davis Sumo, will serve as Chair of the Task Force.
Dr. Kpoto mandated members of the Taskforce to carry out a comprehensive assessment of the health sector, both public and private, to identify and document the challenges and bottlenecks that have been hindering the provision of quality health services to the citizenry.
The Health Minister: “With particular emphasis on the monitoring of the distribution and appropriate utilization of medicines and medicinal products provided by both Donors and Government to the Public Health care institutions.”
She averred that this diverse composition will ensure a holistic and inclusive approach to addressing the systemic challenges that bedevil the health sector.
“The Task Force will work diligently to identify the root causes of issues such as, diversion, and misappropriation of medicines and medical supplies designated for our hospitals and clinics,” Health Minister, Dr. Louise M. Kpoto disclosed.
She expressed optimism that the work of this National Health Sector Task Force will pave the way for a healthcare system that truly serves the needs of the Liberian people.
The energetic Health Minister encouraged both local and international donor-partners as well as Liberians to support and collaborate with the Task Force in building a resilient and robust healthcare system for Liberia.
“In the words of His Excellency, President Joseph Nyumah Boakai Snr, let us “Think Liberia, Love Liberia, and Build Liberia,” she concluded.
The Taskforce is to resume its functions immediately.
For his part, WHO Director General , Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, congratulated Global support to WHO Funding by 50%.
The WHO Director General lauded the resilience of African leaders to ensuring the acceleration of Healthcare across the African continent, particularly response efforts to the ongoing Mpox virus.
Touching on health challenges faced by the continent, particularly threats to health, both communicable and noncommunicable.
Shining light on his recent declaration of the outbreak of mpox as a public health emergency of international concern some two weeks ago, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stated that so far this year, more than 18,000 suspected cases of mpox, with 615 deaths, have been reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo alone, already exceeding last year’s total, which was itself a record.
He said of particular concern is the rapid spread of a new strain of the virus that causes mpox, called clade 1b, in the country’s east.
The WHO DG retrospection of the spread of the Mpox virus over the past month, noted that there were more than 220 cases of clade 1b now been confirmed in four countries neighbouring DRC which had not reported mpox before: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda.
“Last week, cases of clade 1b were also reported in Sweden and Thailand, in people with a travel history from affected countries in Africa. But clade 1b is not our only concern. Cases of other clades have also been reported this year in western DRC, as well as in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Nigeria, the Republic of the Congo, and South Africa.”
“It’s a complex and dynamic picture, and responding to each of these outbreaks, and bringing them under control, will require a complex, comprehensive and coordinated international response. That is why I decided to declare a public health emergency of international concern. Since my declaration on the 14th of August, WHO has been working with the affected countries, and others at risk, through our country and regional offices, as well as with partners including the Africa CDC, NGOs, civil society and more.”
“Last Monday, I issued temporary recommendations under the International Health Regulations for countries affected by, and at risk of mpox. Together with our partners we have developed a Global Mpox Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan, which we shared with all Member States on Friday, and which we published earlier today.” Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated.
WHO DG further stated that 135 million US dollars is required for the next six months to bring the number of outbreaks of Mpox under control, through comprehensive surveillance and response; Minimizing zoonotic transmission; Empowering communities to participate actively in outbreak prevention and control; And advancing research and equitable access to medical countermeasures, including vaccines.
He stated that last Friday, the WHO received the information from manufacturers to evaluate vaccine production.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus: “We expect to issue an Emergency Use Listing within the next three weeks. In the meantime, I have given the green light to Gavi and UNICEF to proceed with procurement of vaccines, pending the EUL decision.”
“We will provide more information during the mpox session on Wednesday. I am confident that with the leadership of the affected countries, the support of WHO at all three levels, and the partnership of the Africa CDC and others, we can bring these outbreaks under control quickly, just as we have with many other outbreaks in recent years.”
“We have learned valuable lessons from our experiences with Ebola, COVID-19, and more. Indeed, improvements in health emergency preparedness and response have been a defining feature of the transformation of the African Regional Office under the leadership of my sister Dr Tshidi Moeti. Nevertheless, weaknesses remain in the health security architecture, globally and in Africa, so I’m pleased to see that your agenda this week includes consideration of an innovative approach to strengthening that architecture. I look forward to participating in that discussion.”
“As you know, Member States made significant steps towards strengthening health emergency preparedness, prevention and response at this year’s World Health Assembly. The adoption of a set of amendments to the International Health Regulations, and the agreement to conclude negotiations of the WHO Pandemic Agreement before next year’s Assembly, or sooner, are major achievements.”
He used the occasion to thank the Honourable Minister of Botswana, Dr Edwin Dikoloti for his leadership during this very historic time, and urged all Member States of the African region to continue to engage actively in those negotiations, to ensure a strong agreement that truly makes the region safer.
“Strengthening WHO’s support for countries to prevent, prepare for and respond to health emergencies has been a key part of our transformation over the past six years. Based on ideas from Member States, partners and our own staff, we launched the most ambitious reforms in the Organization’s history, with more than 50 initiatives, in 2018.”
“We have made significant changes to our business processes, our operating model, our approach to partnerships, our culture and more.”
“The transformation has been focused on making WHO more efficient, effective and results-oriented. That approach was embodied in a bold new strategy, the 13th General Programme of Work.”
“GPW13 was the first of its kind in the history of our Organization, with measurable targets and clear indicators, to support countries on the road towards the health-related SDGs. Although we have made progress down that road together, it has not been far enough, or fast enough. Even without the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we would have been well short of our goals, as you know.”
“The lessons learned from GPW13 have now been incorporated into GPW14, which Member States adopted at this year’s World Health Assembly. GPW14 incorporates lessons from the past, the realities of the present, and our aspirations for the future. It’s based on a clear mission to promote, provide and protect health and well-being for all people, in all countries.”
“To mobilize the resources we need to implement GPW14, we have launched the first WHO Investment Round. The Investment Round is itself part of the WHO Transformation, as the fourth pillar of our long-term plan to make WHO more sustainably financed. It’s about ensuring WHO is fully funded, and that the funding we receive is more flexible, predictable, and resilient.” Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus empathized.
Dr Tedros furthermore thanked Member States from the African region for the exceptional leadership demonstrated in advocating for sustainable financing for WHO, and for the Investment Round, especially President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani for his support for the Investment Round as Chair of the African Union, and for honouring the WHO with his presence at this year’s World Health Assembly.
