Egypt, France airdrop aid to Gaza amid growing humanitarian crisis, global criticism of Israel    Supply minister discusses strengthening cooperation with ITFC    Egypt launches initiative with traders, manufacturers to reduce prices of essential goods    SCZONE chief discusses strengthening maritime, logistics cooperation with Panama    Egypt strengthens healthcare partnerships to enhance maternity, multiple sclerosis, and stroke care    Egypt keeps Gaza aid flowing, total tops 533,000 tons: minister    Egypt reviews health insurance funding mechanism to ensure long-term sustainability    Gaza on verge of famine as war escalates, ceasefire talks stall    Gaza crisis, trade on agenda as Trump hosts Starmer in Scotland    Egyptian president follows up on initiatives to counter extremist thought    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    Egypt will keep pushing for Gaza peace, aid: PM    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Sisi calls for boosting oil & gas investment to ease import burden    EGX to close Thursday for July 23 Revolution holiday    Egypt welcomes 25-nation statement urging end to Gaza war    Sisi sends letter to Nigerian president affirming strategic ties    Egypt, Senegal sign pharma MoU to unify regulatory standards    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    58 days that exposed IMF's contradictions on Egypt    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Aswan Forum urges evenhanded access to COVID-19 vaccines, proper healthcare in Africa
African leaders praise role played by Egypt's President Al-Sisi to advance development, peace in continent
Published in Daily News Egypt on 01 - 03 - 2021

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has pledged the organisation's solidarity with Africa amid international efforts to expand the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination.
Guterres' remarks came in a video message to the opening of the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development, held from 1 to 5 March.
"African countries and the African Union (AU) have shown leadership and unity in response to this unparalleled test. I reiterate the solidarity of the United Nations (UN) with the people and Governments of Africa at this time," he said.
Guterres added that the UN is collaborating with international partners to provide coronavirus vaccines to African countries. Last week, the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) delivered its first shipments of vaccines to Ghana and Ivory Coast.
COVAX is a global initiative aimed at equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines led by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the World Health Organization, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and others.
Moreover, Guterres urged international powers to support African countries that suffer from economic impacts of COVID-19 and poor health infrastructure.
"The world urgently needs a Global Vaccination Plan, and I am urging the Group of 20 to bring together countries, companies, international organizations, and financial institutions with the required power, scientific expertise and production and financial capacities," he said, "I am also calling on the international community to support the world's most vulnerable people and countries, from strengthening health systems to providing debt relief."
"In recent years, Africans have done much to advance the well-being of the continent's people. Economic growth has been strong, the digital revolution has taken hold [and] a free trade area has been agreed. The United Nations will continue to support Africa's efforts across this agenda, including Silencing the Guns," Guterres concluded.
Moreover, Moussa Faki, Chairperson of the AU Commission, said that the COVID-19 pandemic revealed the urgent need for African countries to establish a free trade area and to build a more resilient economy to face crises.
He stressed the need to work on establishing a new health system and building health capacities to ensure proper healthcare to all Africans.
Rwanda's President Paul Kagame said the Aswan Forum raised pressing issues and that the coronavirus pandemic highlighted the importance of healthcare in the African continent.
He added that Africa must work to ensure prevention and protection and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, and to improve the health system to guarantee the continent's independence.
Kagame called for advancing the free trade zone in Africa, and creating supply chains for medicines and medical supplies.
President of Gabon Ali Bongo said the Aswan Forum aims to strengthen Africa's immunity against the pandemic, which has had serious consequences and revealed the fragility of health systems in our countries and the international system.
The Gabonese President praised the role played by Egypt's President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi to advance development and peace in the African continent
President Salva Kiir of South Sudan said the world and Africa are living in difficult conditions due to the pandemic.
He highlighted the importance of the Aswan Forum as a platform to exchange visions with regional and international partners in order to produce a joint response that will benefit all countries economically.
Meanwhile, President Macky Sall of Senegal called on the international community to ease the burden of debt on African countries. He asked the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to take action in this regard.
Additionally, Tunisian President Qais Saeed thanked President Al-Sisi for his keenness to host Aswan Forum despite the challenges posed by the pandemic. He also praised the Egyptian President's continued efforts to strengthen communication between African countries and strategic partners.
Saeed said that since the onset of this pandemic, Tunisia has called on the international community to adopt a cross-cutting approach to effectively deal with the coronavirus pandemic.
He added that Tunisia stressed the expansion of the concept of comprehensive international security and called for a new mechanism to address emerging international threats.
He pointed to the UN Security Council's proposed humanitarian truce to stop hostilities and armed conflicts.
President of Burkina Faso Roch Marc Christian Kaboré said that the recent poverty statistics showed that Africa has crossed the poverty line, as the pandemic has been a severe blow to all countries. Therefore, the world must strengthen research and studies, and support fair access to vaccines.


Clic here to read the story from its source.