China
09:03, 28-Jun-2017
Solving Africa's healthcare challenges to dominate Kigali Forum
[]
Share
Copied
By CGTN's Jerry Owilli
Leaders from several African countries, and the global healthcare and financial sectors have descended on the Rwandan capital, Kigali, for the inaugural Africa Health Forum, organized by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Gathering under the theme "Putting People First," delegates will address Africa's growing healthcare needs. The impact of climate change – such as drought and flooding – on resources and infrastructure is on the agenda, as well as financing healthcare.
The WHO says the Ebola outbreak in West Africa between 2014 and 2016 is an example of the weakness of health systems on the continent.
A woman gets vaccinated at a health center in Conakry during the first clinical trial of a vaccine against the Ebola virus, on March 10, 2015. /VCG Photo
A woman gets vaccinated at a health center in Conakry during the first clinical trial of a vaccine against the Ebola virus, on March 10, 2015. /VCG Photo
Thousands of people died during that outbreak, most of them from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Experts argue that many more lives could have been saved had there been a quicker response to the outbreak, as well as more training and equipment to contain the spread.
Over the coming days, delegates will come up with strategies and form partnerships to improve healthcare systems in Africa.
According to WHO's Regional Director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti, the continent has the world's highest hypertension rate, the highest road traffic fatality rate, and the highest pedestrian death rate.
A series of programs related to health financing, digital health, global health security, health research and universal health coverage, will be held during the forum.
9847km