Zambia: Southern African Development Community (SADC) Ministers of Health have rejected the submission by the Africa Centre for Disease Control (CDC) to declare Cholera a public health emergency in the SADC region.
According to Africa CDC Governing Board Chairperson Sylvia Masebo has disclosed that the SADC Ministers of Health are of the view that individual countries must decide whether to declare the outbreak as a health emergency or not.
Chairing the Extraordinary Session of the Governing Board in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Masebo who is also Zambia’s Minister of Health, stated that the cholera outbreak has affected almost 15 Member States in SADC and Eastern Africa.
In light of the ongoing devastating impact of Cholera and other infectious diseases on the continent, Ms Masebo encouraged member states to develop proactive interventions to prevent future occurrences.
She further encouraged Member States to fast-track the establishment of National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs).
Meanwhile, the Minister commended Africa CDC on the remarkable progress being made in operationalising the Lusaka call to action to ensure that African Union Member States develop clear Public Health Emergency Operation Center roadmaps.
“We need to support the Africa CDC to carry out its mandate and work diligently to address multiple public health threats and epidemics in Africa,” Ms Masebo urged CDC Governing Board members and partners.
And Africa CDC Director General, Jean Kaseya, said the CDC Governing Board Meeting will allow Member States to work on documents for the forthcoming Committee of Heads of States and Government of Africa CDC scheduled to be held on the sidelines of the forthcoming African Union Summit.
This is according to a statement issued by the First Secretary for Press and Tourism at the Zambian Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Inutu Mwanza.