Rwandan Prime Minister Édouard Ngirente says the COVID-19 pandemic exposed gaps in the global health systems, including inadequate preparedness, access to vaccines and technologies, and inefficient and poorly trained personnel.

Mr Ngitrente said this at the second Annual International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA 2022) on Wednesday in Kigali, Rwanda.

The CPHIA 2022 aims to significantly advance efforts to strengthen African research, innovation and emergency management.

The Rwandan prime minister stressed the need for Africa to prioritise and invest in national health programmes.

“Public health is about the capacities of countries to take appropriate actions to protect and care for the health of the citizens. “As such, resilient public health practices must have systems able to detect and respond effectively to outbreaks,” Mr Ngitrente added.

The prime minister said there was a correlation between the health of the citizens and economic growth.

“To build a better future across Africa, we need resilient health systems, and it is high time that Africa leverages the existing opportunities to build them,” Mr Ngitrente advised.

According to Senait Fisseha, CPHIA 2022 co-chair, Africa has many life-saving lessons and guidance to share with the rest of the world.

Ms Fisseha said CPHIA2022 was no longer just a conference but a movement.

“This is what it looks like when we come together with commitment to build the platforms and institutions that we wish existed,” she said.

Meanwhile, Ahmed Ouma, acting director of the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, said it was time for a new public health order to achieve the health security agenda for Africa.

“It is time for Africa to take ownership and responsibility in shaping our present and our future,” Mr Ouma said. ”We all have a role to play in continuing to safeguard Africa’s health. We must first believe in ourselves.”

CPHIA 2022 was hosted by Africa CDC in partnership with the government of Rwanda.

(NAN)