30/07/2026
Today, I had the honour of presenting the report of the Committee on Health, Labour and Social Affairs on Strengthening Health Security and Sovereignty in Africa during the First Ordinary Session of the Seventh Pan-African Parliament.
The report highlights the urgent need for African Union Member States to strengthen disease surveillance, emergency preparedness, infection prevention and cross-border collaboration in response to emerging public health threats, particularly the ongoing Ebola outbreak affecting parts of our continent.
While Uganda has made encouraging progress by entering the 42-day countdown towards declaring the outbreak over, the continued transmission in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo reminds us that infectious diseases know no borders.
According to the Committee's report, the outbreak has resulted in 969 deaths, with a case fatality rate of approximately 39.7%, while 487 patients have recovered.
Our engagement with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) reaffirmed that stronger continental cooperation, resilient health systems, better protection for frontline healthcare workers, and sustained investment in public health are essential to safeguarding the lives of Africans.
As Chairperson of the Committee on Health, Labour and Social Affairs, I remain committed to advancing Africa's Health Security and Sovereignty Agenda, promoting stronger legislation, parliamentary oversight and coordinated action to ensure our continent is better prepared for future public health emergencies.
Together, we can build a healthier, safer and more resilient Africa.