Amref Health Africa Group CEO Dr Githinji Gitahi has been appointed as a commissioner in the Africa Covid-19 Response Commission by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Gitahi’s appointment comes after President Ramaphosa was named the African Union Champion on COVID-19, by the African Union Bureau of Assembly of Heads of State and Government (AU Bureau) at the 34th Ordinary Session of the AU held on 06 February 2021.
President Ramaphosa will chair the Covid-19 response commission and will be deputized by the Director of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Infection (Africa CDC), Dr John Nkengasong.
Working with other commissioners, Dr Gitahi’s role will be to provide counsel to President Ramaphosa and come up with strategies to be adopted by the continent in its fight against Covid-19.
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File image of Amref Health Africa Group CEO Dr Githinji Gitahi. [Photo: Courtesy]
Speaking after his appointment, Dr Gitahi noted that many African countries are struggling with Covid-19, adding that, he believes the commission is an important addition to the continent’s response to the pandemic.
‘‘The rising surges of COVID-19 in various Africa countries continues to be a growing concern, particularly for health systems that are being pushed to a breaking point as well as for Africa’s social and economic health and recovery. In many of these African countries, oxygen is running out, hospital beds are full and there are no vaccines available for those who need them most.
“In addition to the disease burden, communities have suffered a great social and economic burden especially born by women, girls and children. A lot needs to be done to mitigate the outcomes for the health and well-being of Africans during these uncertain, and unprecedented times and I’m confident that the commission under the leadership of H.E Cyril Ramaphosa will be a great addition to the continuing laudable response on COVID-19 in the continent witnessed since the first case in Africa,” said Dr Gitahi.
The Africa Covid-19 response commission has been mandated to; identify gaps in the continental COVID-19 response strategy, propose evidence-based interventions within the scope of practice of the Commission, and generate evidence to assess the impact of COVID-19 on social and economic harm on the continent and propose ways to a strong recovery.
Meanwhile, Dr Gitahi has been in the forefront leading national, continental and global discussions on the pandemic.
In Africa, thanks to his leadership, Amref has been responding to the pandemic in 10 countries across East, West and Southern Africa.
