Algerian Radio
The Minister of Health, Mohamed Seddik Ait Messaoudene, received the Director General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Jean Kaseya, where both sides discussed ways to strengthen the partnership and the prospects for bilateral cooperation, according to a ministry statement released today, Tuesday.
The same source explained that the meeting, which took place yesterday, Monday, in the presence of officials from the central administration, was dedicated to "discussing cooperation prospects between Algeria and the Africa CDC, and ways to enhance partnership in the fields of disease prevention, health emergency response, strengthening health security, as well as training and knowledge transfer, in a way that serves the goals of health sovereignty across the African continent."
In this regard, Mr. Kaseya praised "the position that Algeria occupies at the African level in the health field, and the achievements it has made, making it a model in supporting health systems and enhancing health security on the continent." He also reviewed the mission of the Africa CDC and its vision aimed at "building African health systems that are more capable of preventing epidemics and responding to health emergencies."
Regarding the scientific status enjoyed by the Pasteur Institute of Algeria, particularly after its designation as a regional center of excellence in biosafety and biosecurity for the North Africa region, the Director of the Center considered this a recognition that embodies "international confidence in Algerian competencies and their scientific and technical capabilities."
From this standpoint, he stressed "the importance of benefiting from Algerian expertise within the Africa CDC's programs," expressing his "confidence in Algeria's ability to continue playing its pioneering role in serving the continent and enhancing African cooperation in health fields."
For his part—as indicated in the statement—Mr. Ait Messaoudene reviewed the key reforms taking place in the sector, in implementation of the directives of the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, aimed at "strengthening national health sovereignty and consolidating Algeria's position as a regional and African hub in the health field."
He explained that Algeria "attaches special importance to developing national reference institutions, foremost of which is the Pasteur Institute of Algeria, which is working to implement a strategic project to launch local vaccine manufacturing, reviving the long-standing tradition for which it is known in this field, thereby enhancing self-sufficiency and supporting health security."
In this regard, he touched upon "the project to establish a regional platform specialized in vaccinology, alongside the Tamanrasset center, which will serve as a regional space for training, vaccination, and health cooperation for the benefit of African countries."
The Minister pointed out that "Algeria, true to its history and its African and humanitarian commitment, continues to support brotherly countries and share its expertise with them, in implementation of the vision consistently emphasized by the President of the Republic, which is based on strengthening African solidarity and serving the peoples of the continent."
He also reviewed "efforts aimed at developing the regulatory framework for health products, by reaching maturity level three, creating specialized structures, and establishing a unified national system of standards and procedures, thereby enhancing the quality of health services and improving management efficiency."
Regarding the digitalization projects underway in the sector, he pointed to "the generalization of telemedicine, the establishment of the citizen's digital health identity, and the development of an integrated digital system to manage medicine stocks and ensure their availability, thereby enhancing transparency and efficiency."
On African cooperation, he stressed "the importance of adopting an African approach based on the integration of capabilities, by developing a common African market for medicines and health products, and establishing continental production and distribution platforms, thereby enhancing health security and consecrating reliance on African capabilities."
At the conclusion of the meeting, the two sides renewed their commitment to "strengthening cooperation between Algeria and the Africa CDC, and expanding partnership areas to support health security on the continent, enhance its capacities in disease prevention, health emergency response, and develop local production of medicines and vaccines," according to the same statement.
