Africa: Fruitful Outcomes from Fifth China-Africa Health Roundtable

By George Okore

This week’s 5th International Roundtable on China-Africa Health Collaboration in Beijing, China, adopted raft of solutions of importance to Africa countries.

The Beijing Policy Recommendations vouches for intercontinental towards universal health coverage. China-Africa health policy recommendations will contribute to post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They will be fine-tuned at the sixth Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit in South Africa later this year.

“China and Africa mutually beneficial collaboration meets the needs of African countries while contributing to China’s health and development. China supports Africa’s health progress through production of high-quality, low-cost medicines and vaccines,” said Dr. Ren Minghui, Director General of Department of International Cooperation at China’s National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC).

Co-hosted by Tsinghua University Research Center for Public Health and China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Medicines and Health Products (CCCMHPIE), the Roundtable attracted about 350 participants from China, African countries and international organizations.

 The workshop discussed how China-Africa health cooperation could be strengthened around Universal Health Coverage (UHC) including high-quality, accessible essential commodities, medicines and vaccines. It also tacked immunization, Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), innovation; information and communications technology (ICT) for health.

“African countries and China work together on issues ranging from infectious disease control to strong, sustainable health systems. “For Africa to achieve post-2015 health goals, international cooperation with countries like China,” said Dr. Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko, AU Commissioner of Social Affairs

The meeting also explored traditional medicines and public private partnerships and the importance of addressing substandard drugs and commodities. It was a big win for participating Africa countries, which secured joint projects with China across public and private sectors, including Chinese and African pharmaceutical companies.

These policy recommendations for future China-Africa health collaboration aim to highlight areas of ongoing commitment, along with innovative and practical solutions to priority health issues to African countries and China,” said Professor Cheng Feng co-chair of the Roundtable.

The meeting offered important lessons from recent outbreak and global response to EVD outbreak in West Africa. Notably China was among the first to deliver emergency EVD emergency aid. In addition to financial support, this included provision of medical materials, mobile and fixed biosafety labs, vehicles, training courses and food.

China also dispatched medical professionals, lab technicians and public health specialists to affected areas. “China will continue to provide health personnel training and exchanges, construction of medical and delivery of essential health commodities to help African countries build resilient health systems.

Learning from the EVD crisis, Chinese and African health leaders fully support a new, well-funded international response system to manage future pandemics. “Recognizing that African needs, consent and participation must drive development efforts on the continent, China aims to strengthen its cooperation with national institutions and relevant international organizations. China is committed to trilateral and multilateral forms of cooperation, with the goal of jointly contributing to Africa's development.

The meeting acknowledged that Africa is geographically the oldest but demographically the youngest continent. By the year 2025, Africa will be home to the largest number of children under 18 years of age. By 2050, 39 percent of births around the world will be in Africa and China’s health assistance to Africa should account for these demographic trends.

The Roundtable came at crucial time, as China develops integrated strategy toward other developing countries for the next 5-10 years. The meeting provided platform for high-level consultation between China and Africa on specific health priorities of mutual interest. China-Africa health collaboration complements these investments.