The Bureau of the African
Union Assembly of Heads of State and Governments has expressed grave concern
about the rising local infections, in the context of densely populated human
settlements on the African continent.
It has also underscored the
importance of coordination across the continent and the necessity to exchange
credible and real time information about the spread of the virus.
This is contained in a communiqué
issued at the end of a teleconference of the Bureau of the African Union (AU)
Heads of State and Government, ahead of the G20 Leaders’ Summit
video-teleconference on 26 March 2020 convened by His Excellency President
Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Arica, in his
capacity as Chairperson of the African Union.
The Bureau of the AU Assembly
is chaired by President Ramaphosa and consists of: His Excellency, President
Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta of the Republic of Mali, His Excellency, President Uhuru
Muigai Kenyatta of the Republic of Kenya, His Excellency, President Félix
Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo and His Excellency, President
Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of the Arab Republic of Egypt.
The Chairperson of the
African Union Commission, Mr Moussa Faki Mahamat, and the Director of the
Africa Centres of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Dr John Nkengasong,
also participated in the teleconference
“The Bureau agreed to
establish a continental anti-COVID-19 Fund to which member states of the Bureau
agreed to immediately contribute US $12. 5 million as seed funding. African
Union Member States, the international community and philanthropic entities are
urged to contribute to this fund.”
“The Bureau noted the
critical role of the CDC, and its under-funding. In this regard Member States
of the Bureau agreed to contribute an amount of $4.5 million towards boosting
the capacity of the CDC.”
“The Bureau expressed
concern about the possible shortages of medicines and vaccines as factories
close or countries retain supplies for their own consumption. In this regard, the
Bureau underscored the vital importance of coordinating efforts to increase
global production and improve the availability of medical products and
equipment.”
“Given the limited health
infrastructure in Africa and the reality that most of the pharmaceuticals and
medical supplies consumed on the continent are imported, the Bureau called on
the international community to encourage open trade corridors, especially for
pharmaceuticals and other health supplies.”
“The Bureau urged the G20 to
immediately provide African countries with medical equipment, testing kits,
protective gear to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the Bureau urged
G20 countries to provide an effective economic stimulus package that includes
relief and deferred payments. In this regard, the Bureau called for the waiver
of all interest payments on bilateral and multilateral debt, and the possible
extension of the waiver to the medium term, in order to provide immediate
fiscal space and liquidity to governments.”
“The Bureau also urges the
World Bank, International Monetary Fund, African Development Bank and other
regional institutions to use all the instruments available in their arsenal to
help mitigate against the scourge and provide relief to vital sectors of
African economies and communities.”
“The Bureau expressed
support and appreciation for endeavors of the Committee of African Health
Ministers and paid tribute to the courageous efforts of all medical and health
care officials on the continent engaged in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“The Bureau urge all
citizens of Africa to abide by national measures implemented to curb the spread
of the COVID-19 virus. The Member States of the Bureau of the Assembly of AU
Heads of State and Government expressed their deepest appreciation to the
Chairperson of the Bureau, His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa for his
timely convening of the meeting in order to develop a coordinated African
response to curb and reverse the spread of the COVID-19 virus in Africa.”
“The Bureau of the Assembly
of AU Heads of State and Government agreed to remain seized of this matter.”
In his opening remarks,
President Ramaphosa emphasized that a
continental coordinated response was more important than ever before in order
to arrest the rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted that the
development and spread of the COVID-19 has stretched public health systems
beyond limits and caused an enormous global economic, social and humanitarian
meltdown.
He underscored the fact that
poverty, poor sanitation, an existing disease burden, overstretched health
systems and extreme urban population density mean that the pandemic could
explode in an even more catastrophic way than has been seen thus far in Africa
hence the need for urgent action in order to stem the tide.
President Ramaphosa emphasized
that the AU, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and all health institutions
should direct their efforts at stopping the spread of the virus.
The Bureau received briefing
from Dr John Nkengasong, the Director of the Africa Centres of Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC), who stated that the rapid spread of the COVID-19 is an
unprecedented public health disaster. Dr. Nkengasong stated that the
coronavirus has been spreading rapidly across the world, affecting 175
countries, with 470 000 confirmed cases and claiming more than 21,000 lives. He
noted that 46 African countries have reported a combined total of 2,746
infections, 72 deaths, and 210 recoveries. He warned that the pandemic could
explode in poor countries in an even more catastrophic way than has been seen
elsewhere thus far.
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