Museveni pledges support to African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
He highlighted efforts to reduce maternal mortality and combat malnutrition.
Entebbe: President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni reaffirmed his commitment to bolstering the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) during a meeting with a delegation led by Dr. Jean Kaseya, the Director General of the Africa CDC, at State House Entebbe on October 18, 2024.
The discussions centered on enhancing local medicine manufacturing in Africa, strengthening the African laboratory hub system particularly in Uganda and empowering community health workers, especially Village Health Teams (VHTs), to tackle health threats, including recent outbreaks of monkeypox.
Reflecting on historical disease outbreaks in Africa, Museveni noted that the continent has faced significant health challenges since the 1890s, leading to numerous deaths. He emphasized the importance of vaccinations and prevention strategies, stating that 80% of diseases are preventable.
His government’s initiatives have significantly improved immunization, safe water access, and health education, leading to a population growth in Uganda from 14 million in 1986 to 46 million today.
President Museveni also highlighted efforts to reduce maternal mortality and combat malnutrition, attributing issues like stunted growth to a lack of nutritional education rather than food scarcity.
Dr. Kaseya praised Museveni for launching the Africa CDC in 2016, recognizing the need for African nations to rely less on external partners for public health support. He stressed the importance of African funding for health initiatives, sharing that Uganda contributed around $650,000 to the CDC’s budget of $52 million, which remains insufficient for addressing widespread health crises.
He urged for greater autonomy for the Africa CDC to effectively manage outbreaks, reinforcing the need for local production of medical supplies. “Why import anti-malaria drugs when they can be made in Uganda?” he questioned, advocating for mechanisms to support African pharmaceutical production.
Kaseya commended Uganda’s strong community health programs as a model for other African nations, noting the potential for increased investment in community health systems.
Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng acknowledged Museveni’s role in establishing the Africa CDC, which serves as a vital coordinating body for disease response among African Union member states.
The meeting underscored a collective commitment to strengthening Africa’s health infrastructure, emphasizing local production, community engagement, and autonomous decision-making to enhance public health outcomes across the continent.
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