The African Union Commission recently launched a comprehensive Africa Diaspora health initiative in Washington, DC. His Excellency, Dr. Jean Ping, Chairperson of the African Union Commission on Friday September 26, 2008 in Washington DC, launched the Africa Diaspora Health Initiative under the auspices of the African Union Mission to the United States of America.
 
The purpose of the Africa Union African Diaspora Health Initiative is to provide a platform by which health experts of the African Diaspora can transfer information, skills, and expertise to their counterparts in the African Continent through linking specific health expertise within the African Diaspora with specific health needs in specific geographical locations in Africa.
 
The Africa Union Africa Diaspora Health Initiative is designed to work with African countries (i) to increase the number and quality of the healthcare workforce in the continent; (ii) to support best practices in clinical care and public health throughout the continent; and (iii) to maintain strong support for healthcare delivery issues in Africa through sustained advocacy in the West and in Africa. The Initiative will work with African-based health experts and policymakers to achieve its vision of"A healthy and prosperous Africa free of the heavy burden of disease, disability and premature death."
 
The launching was attended by over 100 healthcare experts of the African Diaspora and included representatives of strategic partners such as the World Bank, the World Health Organization, The African Development Bank, the Economic Community for West Africa States (ECOWAS), the US National Institutes of Health, the US State Department / PEPFAR, Ambassadors or their representative from 12 African countries, the National Medical Association, Howard University College of Medicine, Constituency for Africa, Africare, the Africa Center for Health and Human Security of the George Washington University Medical Center, National Association of Health Services Executives, the Africa Diaspora Medical Project, Institute for the Advancement of Multicultural Minority Medicine, Organization of African Professionals and Scientists in the Diaspora, and Capacity Building International Consulting Corporation.
 
His Excellency Dr. Jean Ping in expressing the African Union support for the Health Initiative noted that "Africa is experiencing unprecedented growth and continued economic development and prosperity is tied to the ability to reduce the burden of disease throughout the continent. Through effective implementation of the African Diaspora Health Initiative, the African Union and its partners will positively impact the health, well-being and ultimately, the futures of all those living in the continent of Africa."
 
Her Excellency Amina Salum Ali, the African Union Ambassador to the United States observed that "as an African woman, mother, long term government minister in Zanzibar and Tanzania, and now permanent Representative of the African Union to the United States, I have often wondered how Africans in the continent and Africans in the Diaspora can work together to create and implement sustainable development initiatives. The African Diaspora Health Initiative provides a suitable platform for such collaborative activities in healthcare".
 
Dr. Chinua Akukwe was appointed Executive Chairman of a six-member African Diaspora Health Initiative Steering Committee. Other members included Ms. Jeanine Scott, Vice-president of Africare, as Vice Chairman; Honorable Jean Augustine, former Deputy Speaker of the Canada House of Commons, representing the Africa Diaspora Community in Canada; Honorable David Comissiong, former Senator of the Barbados Parliament and Chairman of the Caribbean Pan African Network representing the Caribbean; Mr. Larry Lucas, Deputy Vice President of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association of America (PhRMA), representing the organized private sector; and Dr. Charles Mouton, Chairman Department of Community and Family Medicine Howard University, representing Historically Black Medical Schools, and National Africa Diaspora Health Organizations.
 
Dr. Akukwe in his acceptance remarks pledged that the African Diaspora Health Initiative would operate in a transparent manner and provide regular updates on its activities to stakeholders and patrons on progress made on the ground in Africa with respect to each funded project of the Initiative. He also pledged that the Initiative will be a true partnership between African Diaspora health experts and their counterparts living in the continent.
 
For further information on the Africa Diaspora Health Initiative or on becoming a partner of the Initiative, please contact Dr. Emmanuel Nwokolo or Seraphina Marimbona at:
 
African Union Mission to the United States
African Diaspora Health Initiative
1919 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: (202) 293-8006; Fax (202) 293-8007
Email: info@africanunion.adhi.org
Web: www.africanunion-adhi.org