To achieve universal healthcare, especially in Africa, gender equality should be reflected in all levels of interventions, said President Azali Assoumani of Comoros, Chairperson of the African Union. ALSO READ: Women’s voices critical in healthcare decisions – First Lady He was speaking at the 9th Grand Challenges Annual Meeting on October 9, in Dakar, Senegal. Held under the theme Science Saves Lives, the meeting brings together world leaders, philanthropists, researchers, and innovators to explore how the global health community can expand the frontiers of science and innovation to save and improve lives. The Grand Challenges body in collaboration with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation use challenges — launched as open requests for grant proposals — to focus attention and effort on solving key global health and development problems for those most in need. With the need to invest in building and strengthening healthcare systems, Assoumani emphasised that it cannot be achieved without gender equality. “It is important to recognise that women are faced with multiple challenges. During the Covid-19 pandemic, they were the most exposed yet, the least represented in the intervention plan regarding recovery and support for victims.” According to him, this goes in line with improving the access to prevention, detection, and treatment of cervical cancer which remains a primary healthcare threat for women, even worse for women living with HIV/AIDS. In Africa, approximately 80,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer per year, and more than 60,000 women die from the preventable disease. ALSO READ: Cervical cancer awareness and women’s health equity In addition, he called for investment in Research and Development (R&D) on the continent which should pave the way for strengthening healthcare systems and improving lives on the continent. President Macky Sall of Senegal said that Covid-19 has proved that when faced with healthcare threats, no country is secure as long as others remain vulnerable, hence, the need for collaboration between scientists and policymakers. “I encourage the scientific community in its efforts for improving the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, and the development of effective vaccines accessible to all.” Artificial Intelligence to save lives Bill Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation noted that there is a need to generate knowledge and develop technologies that help fulfil the potential of AI in global health. “AI has the potential to revolutionise R&D by linking data and people in new ways. We need to make sure—right now, while the technology is still in its formative stages—that all countries get to participate and all countries benefit, not just wealthy ones.” ALSO READ: EAC needs new tech to tackle emerging diseases – Health Minister Gates also called for ease of regulatory processes that currently impede access to life-saving innovations in least-developed countries, just because the diseases are not considered public health emergency, the likes of malaria, AIDS, and tuberculosis. “We need strong regulatory systems that rigorously protect people’s health. Regulators cannot cut corners. However, as they have done with Covid-19, polio, and early on HIV, regulators can use their emergency authority to consider the full context when they make decisions. And part of that context should be that saving lives in poor countries is just as urgent as saving lives in rich ones.”
