ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- African Union (AU) Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development Minata Samate Cessouma on Thursday called for durable solutions to address Africa's public health and humanitarian challenges.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the ongoing 38th AU Summit at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital, Cessouma said the African continent is currently experiencing a rise in disease outbreaks and various humanitarian crises.
"In 2024 alone, many African countries faced climate catastrophes, including floods, droughts and cyclones. Public health remains one of the most pressing issues confronting Africa today, and if we do not take action, it will continue to have a significant impact on the continent," she said.
Cessouma said that the root causes of many of Africa's humanitarian challenges often stem from climate change, governance issues, insecurity, terrorism, and the rise in disease outbreaks.
"We have more than 45 million displaced people in Africa. This is a significant number, and we face this problem in all five regions of the continent," she said.
"We must find durable solutions to conflicts and other humanitarian challenges in Africa," the AU commissioner added, citing ongoing crises in Sudan, the Sahel region, and other parts of the continent.
She said there is an urgent need to strengthen Africa's public health systems. "If we do not have a healthy and well-nourished population, we cannot build the Africa we want. The public health situation in Africa is highly complex, with numerous challenges. We need to focus on finding both short- and long-term solutions," she said.
The 38th AU Summit is taking place from Wednesday to Sunday under the AU's theme for 2025: "Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations." ■
