Dr. Kaggwa Mugaga HIV Advisor at WHO Uganda

With more Africans now seeking to lift the quality of drugs they consume and better the health sector on the continent, African Union member states are soon launching the African medicines agency that will be responsible for regulating as well as harmonizing the standard and quality of medicines and other health consumables to be used in Africa just like it is in Europe and America.

Speaking during the interview with the Chairman, International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations (IAPO), Dr. Karadip Sehim, on why they are coming up with the agency he says;

“The population on the continent has for years used drugs from Europe, India and America which have not been fully researched and tested on Africans’ geno types which he says is very dangerous,” adding that “We now as Africans need to set up this agency so that we shall learn and regulate the kind of drugs to be used in Africa for better treatment,”Dr. Sehim says.

He further notes that Africa being a disease burdened continent, fake drugs have found their way into the region causing adverse negative effects to patients which then leads to increased health costs for both governments and the population.

Then the corporate affairs director from PFIZER one of the global pharmaceutical companies, Margaret Olele, says this move will also increase patients engagement with drug manufacturers to get to know which best drugs to produce for which disease for better cure for the Africans.

Health worker sensitizsng visiting patients about HIV/Aids in Uganda

WHO Uganda advisor on tropical diseases, Mugaga Kagwa, says this agency will help solve the burden of unsafe drugs on the continent which have caused harm to 1out of 10 hospitalized individuals being admitted as a result of unsafe drugs with 8% of the people getting challenges yet 83% of these could be avoided.

Africa accounts for 15% of the world’s population with 25% global disease burden still in Africa but with limited access to quality, safe and efficacious medicines being a key contributing factor.

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The Continental body hosted a fund-raising luncheon to propel forward the recently launched Pan-African University (PAU). The Fund-raising luncheon held on the side lines of the recently concluded African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, brought together several donors and partners including the Private Sector and some representatives of AU Member States.

The luncheon was organized by the Department of Human Resources, Science and Technology (HRST) of the African Union Commission (AUC), in the presence of the some Commissioners and high officials of the AU Commission.

Chairing the event, Professor Jean-Pierre Ezin, the Commissioner of Human Resource Science and Technology underlined the importance and relevance of the Pan-African University, noting that most African countries face the challenge of establishing high quality institutions in order to restore Africa’s image in terms of education.

According to a statement issued by the Directorate if Information and Communication at the African Union Commission, Professor Ezin, the Pan-African University will contribute in building the capacity of future researchers in Africa to help enhance the development of the continent.

Addressing participants at the fund-raising luncheon, the Director of the Department of Human Resources, Science and Technology (HRST) Vera Ngosi, highlighted that the Pan African University will help Africa to meet its collective goals such as the Millennium Development Goals.

She said science, technology and innovation are the basis for socio-economic development of the Continent.

Meanwhile Mrs Hewan Teka Legesse, a Philanthropists who assisted in the organisation of the fund raising for the promotion of the Pan African University encouraged  partners to support the  AU department of Human Resources, Science and Technology in their efforts to raise the needed fund to enable an effective implementation of the Pan African University project.

The Head of the Education Division of HRST Dr. Beatrice Njenga presented the structure of the Pan African University (PAU) saying that it is a thematic network of higher institutions of research.

Dr. Njenga added that the distinguishing factor of the University is that, it nurtures quality and exemplify excellence through its peculiar curriculum.

she listed the five thematic areas of the PAU as Space Sciences based in Southern Africa), Water and Energy Sciences in North Africa, Basic Sciences, Technology and Innovation in Eastern Africa,  Earth and Life Sciences in West Africa, and Governance, Humanities and Social Sciences in Central Africa.

Pledging his country’s commitment to support the AU efforts for this project, the Ambassador of Equatorial Guinea in Addis Ababa Dr. Ruben Maye Nsue Mangue, said his country is interested in fishery and will provide the needed infrastructure to host a branch in this area if the AU is interested.

Dr. Mangue further donated an envelope of undisclosed amount which he said will be deducted from his salary as his own personal contribution to the Pan African University PAU project.

He said it is a pride for young African students to be educated in the continent rather than going abroad for their studies.

The representative of the African Capacity Building Fund (ACBF) also made promises amongst others donors and partners, to support the PAU project.

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 His excellence Kibaki also applauded the youth studying at Makerere University for making the electric car, the KIIRA EV.

He challenged the Youth in Kenya, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Botswana among other African countries to motivate Makerere Students.

Kibaki challenged the youth in Africa to emulate their counterparts in Europe and US by engaging deeply in scientific studies.

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