Cairo, Egypt: The Ministry of Health and Population of Egypt, Dr Khaled Abdul Ghaffar, has been attending the G20 health ministers meeting in India.
Dr Ghaffar took part in the fourth meeting of the G20 Health Work Group to be held from 18 to 19 August at Gandhinagar in Gujarat, India, on Friday.
In his speech during the meeting, the Minister of Health and Population expressed his appreciation and happiness to participate in the discussion of one of the most important topics facing the world today, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the world’s deep vulnerability, which has resulted in suffering and enormous losses of lives, economies disruption, and the discovery of loopholes in the alarm mechanisms, according to the update by the government.
And the response, alongside the roadblock that healthcare systems have followed over the years, especially for antimicrobial resistance efforts.
Reportedly, Ghaffar said that despite the enormous losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic, it had given the world a great opportunity to renew commitment, solidarity and accountability towards health security, highlighting the most urgent challenges that require intensified joint efforts to solve.
In this regard, the Minister of Health and Population assured that the Egyptian state had made great efforts to strengthen the preparedness and response framework in line with the global framework and strategies for epidemic prevention, preparedness and response, believing that the country’s national health security is an integral part of global health security, some of the sources claim.
The Minister added that Egypt has succeeded in putting in place several national plans and strategies for preparedness and response to health emergencies, whether in relation to epidemics, natural disasters or other health emergencies and are constantly updated, in line with international recommendations and standards.
Among them was the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance, released and Implemented in March 2019, to reflect the accreditation of the single health concept and the achievement of four key objectives focused on improving public awareness, optimal use of antimicrobials, unified health surveillance of immune organisms, and the implementation of evidence-based infection prevention and control practices, as per the reports.
The Minister continued that he believes in the importance of fostering cross-sector cooperation, integrating systems and capacities to work better and boosting the One Health approach; the Egyptian Ministry of Health developed a National Strategic Framework for One Health for the five years from 2023 to 2027, announced during the events of the United Nations Conference for Change Climate COP27 held in Egypt end of last year.
Dr Khaled Abdul Ghaffar said that since prevention and preparedness are two key focus points in addressing health emergencies effectively, it is imperative for all efforts to focus on empowering the national health systems and increasing access to good healthcare services inclusively without leaving anyone behind, thus limiting The onset of an infection.
The Government of Egypt also informed that in context, the Minister urged that more resources should be allocated in key research areas to build evidence-based interventions, identify new diagnostics, vaccines and drug targets, along with working to raise awareness of the risks of microbial resistance among health workers, farmers and the public, to change behavioural patterns of antibiotic use Microbes, alongside intensifying national efforts to enforce laws and regulations towards the prudent use of antibiotics.
Supporting initiatives that enhance resilience and adapt to the effects of climate change on Health and build on the outcomes of the 27th Party Conference, Dr Khaled Abdul Ghaffar said.
He also included investment in climate-resistant healthcare infrastructure, disaster preparedness, early alarm systems, and public health monitoring by strengthening health systems’ ability to respond to climate-related health risks.
In concluding his speech, the Minister of Health and Population called for attendance to work hand in hand and exchange experiences and knowledge, to intensify national work and unify regional and global applications, and to achieve aspirations towards achieving sustainable development goals.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Minister of Health and Population, Dr Khaled Abdul Ghaffar, met with Dr Tedros Adhanum, Director General of the World Health Organization, where they exchanged views on the importance of maintaining health systems in the areas of prevention, treatment and uniform Health and maintaining health system gains in the face of epidemics.
