Above: African Presidents will gather in the U.S. next year
for the first-ever summit on health, according to USDFA.
(Photo credit: TropIKA.net)
Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff
Published: Monday, March 15, 2010
New York (Tadias) – The first African Presidents Health Summit will be held in Washington, D.C. in the Spring of 2011, U.S. Doctors for Africa (USDFA) confirmed today.
The California based non-profit organization, which also played host to the first ever African First Ladies Health Submit last year in Los Angeles, says several heads of state have been invited to attend the upcoming conference.
“It is expected that the majority of African leaders joined by their health ministers and other cabinet members will be attending the summit. Members of the U.S. government, heads of American-based foundations and corporations, as well as executives from various NGOs will also be joining the event,” Ted Alemayhu, Founder & Executive Chairman of USDFA, told Tadias Magazine. “Several African Presidents have already confirmed attendance, and a complete list of attendees will be announced in early 2011.”
USDFA hopes that the historic gathering will put a spotlight on the continent’s chronic healthcare crisis. “As most of us are aware, the issue of health and access to healthcare is an ongoing concern throughout Africa, and, certainly, the leaders of the continent are on the forefront in dealing with this vastly complicated issue,” Mr. Alemayhu said. “What is encouraging is that each leader seems deeply committed to bringing about a better and more broad access of healthcare to their citizens, and the timing for the leaders to come together on this specific topic could not be better.”
Mr. Alemayhu says that he is confident in the successful outcome of the Summit. “What is unique about this Summit is that all Presidents will be focusing on one common issue; they are looking for a more sustainable and timely way to solve the healthcare crisis that is claiming the lives of millions of their citizens. We expect the Summit to provide each leader with an opportunity to highlight their successes and challenges, and to gain more international resources to better assist their efforts on the ground. ”
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Related links and videos:
Click here to watch the first African First Ladies Health Summit
Video: Cameroon Honors Ted Alemayhu
Ted Alemayhu’s Keynote at Columbia University (NYC)
