For the first time, Russian-African rapid response teams have begun an exercise and workshop to help them prepare for health emergencies such as diseases and epidemics. Alongside the joint exercise, a training seminar on “Rapid Response to Emergency Situations of a Sanitary and Epidemiological Nature” has also been held to exchange knowledge and improve teamwork.
Ethiopian Health Minister Dr. Mekdes Daba stressed the importance of a strong health system to protect the public’s safety; the exercise platform is of great importance for bringing together experts from Russia and African countries to exchange experiences on how to respond quickly to health emergencies. She said that the participation of more than 100 experts from 15 African countries in the program is a sign of the countries’ commitment to the issue; She also said that it will help strengthen relations between African countries. Dr. Mekdes added that the Ethiopian government is committed to building its capacity to respond to health emergencies.
At the forum, a message from the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin had been presented and shared Russia’s experience in managing health emergencies, while the Head of the Russian Federal Service for Consumer Rights Protection and Human Rights Protection, Prof. Anna Popova, stated that Russia will continue to strengthen its cooperation with African countries.
Recalling that Russia and African countries have long-standing historical friendships, the Russian Ambassador to Ethiopia and Representative of the African Union Commission, Evgeny Terekhin, highlighted the importance of Russia-Africa partnership. He stressed the importance of countries working together to prevent diseases, as the pandemic does not stop at borders.
The aim of the program is to strengthen cooperation and build skills to protect people from diseases and other health threats, said Dr. Mesay Hailu, Director General of the Ethiopian Institute of Public Health. He explained Ethiopia’s efforts to improve public health. The Director General of the Ethiopian Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Prof. Afework Kasu, presented the research being conducted on disease prevention.
The Vice President of the African Union Commission, Selma Malik, who also participated in the forum, said that the training program will enable Africa to strengthen its response to epidemics as a continent. She also expressed the African Union’s commitment to strengthening the disease prevention systems of its member states.
The training and seminar focused on practical measures, focusing on how to identify diseases early, respond quickly and work together across countries. Participants will practice real-life situations to improve their skills; the platform is expected to create a new step in Russian-African cooperation.
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