This was stated by the dean of the diplomatic corps of that continent on the island while delivering the keynote address at the evening last night for Africa Day 2022 to be held this Wednesday, May 25, which was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Ines Maria Chapman and Deputy Foreign Minister Elio Rodriguez.

Prior to the beginning of the activity, the master of ceremony, Zimbabwean Ambassador Ignatius Graham Mudzimba, asked the attendees to observe a minute of silence in tribute to the victims of the Saratoga Hotel tragedy in Havana and of Covid-19, which, he said, left many families in Africa and Cuba in mourning.

In the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, the experience of the island, which produced its own vaccines, is a good example for African nations. By developing cooperation in this field, “Africa can ensure its pharmaceutical and medical sovereignty as soon as possible,” said the head of Mission.

This health crisis – he added – has generated a whole ecosystem of hygienic, pharmaceutical and clinical products on the continent, raising awareness of the need to make progress in this vital field.

The production of vaccines is already underway in some countries and others will start later, he said.

Ousbo called for taking advantage of this new dynamic and thus contribute to the emergence of an African pharmacological industry capable of meeting the continent’s basic needs and thus face pandemics such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

Regarding Africa Day, the diplomat asserted that it is a moment in which “we reaffirm our will for African freedom and unity”.

pgh/abo/mh