WONCA at WHO Regional Committee for Africa Meeting
Credit: WHO
Dr. Dan Abubakar, Regional President of WONCA Africa, proudly represented our organization at the
Seventy-third session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa. This event, held in Gaborone, Botswana, from August 28th to September 1st, 2023, gathered approximately 800 participants, including health ministers, healthcare professionals, civil society members, and experts from across Africa.
Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, delivered an inaugural speech urging member states of the African Region to actively engage in the 14th general program of work, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals for 2025 – 2028. This program offers a comprehensive framework to address global healthcare challenges, promoting the well-being of populations.
Dr. Tedros emphasized the crucial role of primary healthcare as the foundation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Establishing robust primary healthcare systems is essential for achieving equitable healthcare access, a fundamental goal in global health.
Credit: WHO
“Nowhere is more important than here in our continent. Across the region, hundreds of millions of people lack access to essential health services. Closing these gaps must be top of the to-do list for every member state”, said Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.
Dr. Dan Abubakar's representation of WONCA Africa at this event underscores our commitment to advancing healthcare initiatives and contributing to the region's health and well-being.
AfroPHC, a WONCA Africa project, present at the WHO Regional Committee for Africa
The African Forum for Primary Care took the floor during the fourth day of discussion of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa. During her intervention, Dr Mercy Wanjala noted that goals to promote health a wellbeing within the Africa will remain unreachable if unless communities are empower to be accountable and responsible for individual, family and community health care through strengthening community oriented primary care systems.
Dr Wanjala also highlighted the importance of advocating for self-care and implementing selfcare policies. Better health choices and understanding the importance of lifestyle decisions with the focus on prevention and self-management
Watch the full event HERE.