Africa-Press – Ethiopia. The Africa CDC and the Mastercard Foundation have entered a new phase of partnership on Saving Lives and Livelihoods initiative to strengthen Africa’s public health systems.
In its second phase, the partnership will expand its scope and scale, focusing on completing the vaccination of healthcare workers and vulnerable groups, building a robust workforce of community health workers, ensuring pandemic preparedness by bolstering national public health institutions, laboratory capacities, data access and quality, local manufacturing of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics, and continuing strengthening of Africa CDC.
According to a press release of Africa CDC, Mastercard Foundation President and CEO Reeta Roy said “while the global pandemic may be declared over, the need to continue investing in our health systems, build our workforce and prepare for future pandemic remains urgent.
This partnership will ensure that we have strong health institutions and systems, she said, adding that the aim is to enable thousands of young people to build their careers in healthcare and contribute to improving lives in Africa.
The Saving Lives and Livelihoods initiative stands out as a testament to the power of African-led health solutions.
As it progresses to its next phase, partnerships will continue to play a crucial role in shaping a New Public Health Order for Africa.
The Saving Lives and Livelihoods initiative was launched in June 2021.
Unprecedented in scale, speed and inclusion of African organizations, the partnership has contributed to the continent’s current vaccination rate of 53 per cent of the target population, up from just 3 percent at the start of the initiative, it was pointed out.
The partnership has also trained, equipped, and deployed 38,000 health workers, creating a robust front line in safeguarding public health locally.
The review of Phase 1 of this initiative, among fifteen implementing partners across 29 countries, conducted by Deloitte indicates that the vast majority of funds disbursed were used effectively and as intended.
Africa CDC Director-General, Jean Kaseya said “our Saving Lives and Livelihoods initiative with the Mastercard Foundation has shown the power of respectful and action-oriented partnerships rooted in collaboration, coordination. and systems strengthening.”
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