The 27th Assembly of Health Ministers of ECOWAS is underway at the Raddison Blu Hotel in Freetown. The event brings together over 500 delegates, including Health Ministers of member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), partners and experts, to discuss the current challenges and future of healthcare in the region. Organized by the West African Health Organization (WAHO), the specialized institution of ECOWAS responsible for healthcare, the assembly is the highest regional political decision-making platform that guides key decisions and implementation of health-related policies on the continent. The Government of Sierra Leone is extremely proud to be hosting this prestigious gathering for the first time in fifteen years. This year’s meeting highlights the significance of a continent-wide approach in fighting malaria with the theme; “Advancing Malaria Elimination through an Integrated Regional Strategy.”
With malaria accounting for about 75% of fatality rate among children under five years and 35.6% share of global cases in the ECOWAS region, the urgency and focuss on the disease provides health ministers with a strategic forum to review progress made by member states and regional institutions as well as strengthen collaboration and adopt key decisions to improve overall health outcome and well-being for Africans. In his opening address, the Director General (DG) of WAHO, Malchior Athanase Aissi, stressed the relevance of full implementation of major healthcare conventions related to disease control, particularly malaria prevention, which, he said, is at a critical crossroads. He added that, “it is important for us to reconvene to consolidate our achievements and define our next steps.” The Director General highlighted the relevance of this year’s theme as particularly appropriate because, as he puts it, “malaria continues to impose a heavy burden on health systems and economies at both national and household levels.”
The Minister of Health for the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr. Austin Demby, addressed the delegates in a press conference through an online link from Washington D.C. He welcomed the members of rhe assembly un behalf of the Government of Sierra Leone emphasizing the significance of the country hosting this year’s event. “Sierra Leone intends to maximize this historic moment to strengthen policy and improve the implementation of high-impact interventions, particularly in maternal and child health outcomes,” he said. Dr. Demby expressed optimism for the ongoing conference stressing that it should serve as a platform for concrete commitments and coordinated actions to sustainably improve health outcomes of West African populations.
The opening session of this week’s long event started on Monday with a high-level meeting of the liaison officers, who provided updates on activities and implementation of strategic continent-wide healthcare targets. In the coming days, the conference will convene experts, partners and a grand opening by the political leadership of Sierra Leone to discuss and proffer concrete suggestions on how to end malaria in the region and improve overall health for Africans.