11:25 - 12:25
Panel 4: Building Resilient Public Health Systems & Stronger Pandemic Preparedness and Emergency Response
The COVID-19 pandemic has overwhelmed health systems in both developed and developing nations alike with Africa having one of the weakest health systems globally. Health systems in Africa were inadequately prepared for the pandemic, and its impact was substantial. Insufficient access to vaccines, medicines and technologies, and weak health systems have hindered the realization of the right to health of all Africans during the pandemic. In addition, fiscal constraints, and unsustainable debt burdens are hindering the path to recovery. Africa has also been left behind in the COVID-19 response, with less than 13% of people in Africa fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of March 2022. As countries roll back strict measures against COVID-19, African countries and their public health stakeholders are starting to shift their attention. Vaccination continues to remain important, however the focus is moving on to longer-term testing and surveillance approaches that can be integrated into, and will strengthen, national health systems. New and robust funding mechanisms for HIV, health and pandemic preparedness must prioritize the local needs of African countries through special drawing rights reallocation, debt relief, new concessional sources and sustained/increased overseas development assistance (ODA). Partnerships with developed nations in collaboration with multilateral institutions is also required to support African institutions.