African Union Agency, Mercy Ships Partner to Boost Surgical Care
A Joint Action Plan will guide the implementation with specific deliverables and timelines.
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — The African Union Development Agency-NEPAD and Mercy Ships signed an agreement in December to expand access to surgical care across Africa, where 93% of sub-Saharan residents lack timely, affordable procedures, writes Winston Mwale.
The partnership, announced at the World Policy Conference in Abu Dhabi, aims to strengthen health systems by developing policy frameworks, training medical professionals and improving medical infrastructure.
"This MoU marks a significant step in addressing critical gaps in surgical care in Africa," said Nardos Bekele-Thomas, CEO of AUDA-NEPAD. She said the collaboration combines her agency's health system expertise with Mercy Ships' surgical capabilities.
The joint initiative will focus on attracting investments for equipment, supporting local manufacturing of medical supplies, and promoting surgical care in national health policies.
"Together, we can bridge the gap in surgical care and improve countless lives by contributing to strong, sustainable healthcare systems," said Dr. Juliette Tuakli, Mercy Ships Africa Ambassador.
The partnership aligns with the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, particularly the target of ensuring universal health coverage.
A Joint Action Plan will guide the implementation with specific deliverables and timelines.