President Muhammadu Buhari has stressed the need for West African Countries to embrace the Global Agenda for Universal Health coverage to address the critical health challenges in the region.
President Buhari stated this in Abuja at the 22nd ordinary meeting of the ECOWAS Assembly of Health Ministers, organized by the West African Health Organization, WAHO.
Represented by the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, President Buhari urged countries in the region to honour the 2001 Abuja declaration of 15 percent funds for the health Sector to tackle other health challenges such as malaria, ebola and Cholera.
Also speaking, the Ghanaian Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, said there was need to strengthen regional ties to promote research and development in the areas of medical and Vaccine production.
The Director General, West African Health Organization, WAHO, Professor Stanley Okolo in a remark, commended President Buhari for his Support to the region in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic noting that with his Support, WAHO was able to function effectively in the disruption of COVID-19 vaccines and Medical equipment within the region.
The President, ECOWAS Commission, Jean-claude Kassi Brou, advised member nations not to be overwhelmed by the COVID-19 pandemic neglecting other prominent diseases.
The 22nd ordinary meeting of the ECOWAS Assembly drew Ministers of Health and their representatives from all the member countries of the West African region except for Guinea and Mali to the event.
RN