Addis Ababa, (African Union)– 9 August 2024 (SPS)– The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic presented its experience in combating counterfeit Medicines during the African Health Ministerial Dialogue on Countering Counterfeit Medicines organized by the African Commission on Health and Humanitarian Affairs, in the Headquarters of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Friday 9 August.
This event was part of the regular 5th session of the Specialized Technical Committee on Health, Population, Nutrition, and Drug Control organized last week.
The dialogue focused on African policies and strategies to combat the spread of counterfeit medicines, which significantly impact public health across the continent. Participants emphasized the need for strict measures and actions by African countries to address this growing issue.
Sahrawi Minister of Public Health, Salek Baba Hasanna, led the discussions, presenting an overview of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic's experience with medicines and its protective mechanisms. He reviewed national regulations and laws governing this area, in line with the Sahrawi Republic's commitments under the 2022 African Medicines Agency Act.
The Sahrawi minister urged all African countries to intensify efforts to develop a unified and comprehensive African strategy aimed at reducing the spread of counterfeit medicines and enforcing stringent measures against non-compliant nations.
The Sahrawi Minister of Public Health was accompanied in the meeting by Lamon Baali, Sahrawi Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union, and Hayai Ahmed Baba Hayai, Director of Communication and Awareness at the Ministry of Public Health.
It is worth noted that the Sahrawi minister also participated in the 5th Regular Session of the Specialized Technical Committee on Health, Population, Nutrition, and Drug Control, which gathered African health ministers and experts and specialized agencies.
The Sahrawi health delegation conducted numerous meetings with health ministers, ambassadors of African countries, and representatives of African and international health organizations to strengthen cooperation and exchange experiences in combating counterfeit medicines. (SPS)
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