EPHA Partakes at the Continental Health Conference Organized by US Doctors for Africa and People to People in AU
The Ethiopian Public Health Association (EPHA) entrusted twenty-five of its members to the continental conference held in the African Union Conference Center from May 21-23, 2014 where delegates represented by EPHA reflected professional and scientific views in response to the 21st century health challenges of the continent of Arica.
Officially opened by the President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, His Excellency Dr Mulatu Teshome and the Secretary General of African Union, the conference deliberated on major public health agendas of the continent dealing towards mobilizing efforts for the health sector development of Africa through triangulation among government, Diaspora and non-governmental organizations.
Such a triangulation effort was caused by the main reason to tackle emerging and traditional public health problems in Africa those including infectious disease, non-communicable diseases maternal and child health issues.
To result in successful health sector development, African governments are responsible to enable the environment attractive for public health investment and the Diaspora group and non-governmental organizations are expected to support governments initiative in order to reduce over expectation and unnecessary burden on governments.
It was said that African natives Diaspora in Europe and North America are surprisingly large in number and are engaged in different professional services. These people are equipped with special skill that can benefit their continent; hence it was underscored that it is a high time to pool these rich resource to respond to African health problems.
Special health care service for the African people in the form of Tele -medicine, mobile clinic and skill transfer were suggested to be initiated as the most practical methods in saving the lives of the poor African people.
Lastly US Doctors for Africa, People to People and different delegates represented from various organizations came together and formed a Pan African Health Care Association which is responsible to improve the well-being of the people of the continent.