Africa : taking stock of healthcare

OK, first a caveat. This is a little naughty... I had the huge privilege of moderating for a health summit in French on the sidelines of the World Health Organization annual meeting. It was an event specifically designed for the Francophone community organised by the Leem and Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) in Geneva. Though French was the name of the game, for expediency, I am writing this in English... A French version has now been published. That was the naughty bit!

There were 12 French speaking health ministers from Africa, the African Union President, a strong representation from the WHO including Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and leading pharmaceutical companies brought together around the theme of strenghtening African health services. I found the exchange refreshingly frank and honest. It was a moment to take stock and see how resilient health services were after the ravages of Ebola and Covid. The countries represented were at very different stages of their journeys. The Minister for Health of Senegal explained how the country is fine tuning the deployment of universal healthcare, for The Democratic Republic of Congo we learned how the first steps were being taken on that path.

Despite the clear challenges it was a very optimistic conversation showing how organisations like the World Health Organization are playing a crucial role but also how pharmaceutical companies such as Merck and Roche are involved. Their Africa directors Karim Bendhaou Maturin Tchoumi were speakers on our panel.

It was a real pleasure to work with the very professional and friendly Leem team. I met some fantastic people not least the health ministers present but also Philippe Lamoureux Henri Eli Monceau Professor Jér?me SALOMON Nora Berra and Stéphanie Seydoux . I must admit I find moderating and MC-ing in French more challenging than English but equally rewarding. I am bilingual but my working language is predominantly English.?I even did some spontaneous simultaneous English to French translation for the Lebanese Health Minister. That was a first and I think, even if I say so myself, I did pretty well!

Philippe Lamoureux Laurent Gainza Caroline Allheily Josette Milgram-Todorovitch Fabrice Meillier Richard Amalvy Nora Berra

Lucie KLEMENS Stéphanie Bou Marta Kuznicki Michel Sidibe

Mary Elizabeth Kamandu Estelle Forfert Elisabeth A. Caroline Rossigneux-Méheust Clémentine BODY

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