By: Robert Kwaku Annor
The World Health
Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa has operationalised the
reconstituted Monitoring Committee of the African Public Health Emergency Fund
(APHEF), in a move aimed at strengthening the continent’s ability to mobilise
financing quickly during public health emergencies.
WHO Regional Director for
Africa, Prof. Mohamed Janabi, said the committee’s reactivation would help
restore and strengthen the governance structure of APHEF and improve oversight
of the fund as African countries work to build a more reliable mechanism for
responding to health emergencies.
Prof. Janabi said Africa has
significant experience in managing disease outbreaks and other public health
emergencies, but warned that expertise alone is insufficient without resources
that can be deployed rapidly when crises occur.
He stressed the need for
emergency financing to move with predictability, speed and flexibility,
particularly as infectious diseases continue to cross national borders.
“Disease does not respect
borders. When disease moves, resources must move faster,” Prof. Janabi said.
The Monitoring Committee is
expected to play a critical role in strengthening APHEF as a continental
financing mechanism capable of supporting Member States during health
emergencies and improving Africa’s preparedness and response capacity.
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary
for the National Treasury and Economic Planning, John Mbadi, was elected
Chairperson of the committee, while Cabo Verde’s Minister of Health, Dr Lúcio
Miranda Fernandes, was elected Vice-Chairperson.
