Vice President of the ruling Ethiopian Prosperity Party, Adem Farah, said this at the opening of the Second Meeting of African and Caribbean Health Ministers under the motto “Moving Forward Together: One Voice, One Future”.

Farah commented that the Covid-19 pandemic reminded the world of a harsh reality: it exposed the vulnerabilities of global systems and the risks associated with unequal distribution of essential health supplies.

He emphasized that health sovereignty is essential, from vaccine production to essential medicines, from resilient supply chains to regional manufacturing.

“We must move forward in our shared commitment to self-sufficiency.

Our people deserve timely access to the most fundamental human right: the right to health,” he said.

He also stated that universal health coverage and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Health and Well-being”, seeks to ensure healthy living and promote well-being for all at all ages, ensuring access to health care and promoting healthy lifestyles) must be accelerated urgently.

“We cannot build prosperous economies on the basis of fragile health systems. By investing in primary health care, we create the strongest foundation of all,” he said.

“Health is not just an expense, it’s the biggest investment a nation can make in its people, their productivity, their stability and their future,” he said.

Finally, he stressed that Africa and the Caribbean, although they are the least responsible for the climate crisis, are among the most affected.

The meeting of health ministers is part of the preparatory events for the Second Africa-CARICOM (Caribbean Community) Summit to be held tomorrow.

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