HIBAPRESS
Former Minister of Administration in Guinea-Bissau, Toumani Baldé, affirmed that Africa must build its health sovereignty on coherent policies and enhanced cooperation.
Baldé pointed out, in a statement to the Moroccan News Agency, on the sidelines of the first African summit on health systems and health sovereignty, organized by the Mohammed VI Foundation for Health Sciences, that this initiative comes to remind African countries of the importance of strengthening their infrastructure, human capabilities, and tools for crisis management. He stressed that "we cannot continue to rely on others to protect our citizens," recalling that the (COVID-19) pandemic revealed the weakness of the continent's health infrastructure, but also the need for sustainable internal mobilization. In this context, he praised the leading role of Morocco in African health solidarity, recalling that the Kingdom supported several countries during the management of the health crisis, including Guinea-Bissau. He also highlighted the vision carried by the Mohammed VI Foundation for Health Sciences, considering it "a strategic actor in developing an African model capable of controlling its health destiny." In his estimation, the summit constitutes an essential framework for identifying common challenges, sharing successful experiences, and formulating collective orientations that will enable the continent to progress towards real health sovereignty. Baldé concluded by calling for intensifying such meetings as they are necessary to accompany the building of a strong, sovereign Africa that controls its choices in the field of health.
