EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides is set to visit Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Monday, February 5.
This visit marks a concerted effort with the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union and falls within the ambit of Team Europe’s initiatives aimed at supporting African partners.
Accompanied by Belgium’s Minister for Cooperation, Caroline Gennez, on behalf of the Council of Europe’s Presidency, Commissioner Kyriakides’s agenda includes high-level discussions with key figures from the African Union, including President Moussa Faki, as well as representatives from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organisation, the United Nations, and the Ethiopian government.
The talks are expected to revolve around enhancing cooperation in pandemic readiness, bolstering healthcare system resilience, and increasing Africa’s pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities.
A highlight of the visit will be the signing of a pivotal agreement between the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. This agreement is anticipated to deepen the EU-Africa partnership in critical health sectors.
Furthermore, Commissioner Kyriakides’s itinerary includes visits to health facilities in Ethiopia. She will tour a women’s shelter providing support to sexual violence victims, an oncology unit, and a mental health unit at a local hospital.
Source: Cyprus