Ashraf AboArafe
10 September 2023, CAIRO – The British Embassy in Cairo participated in the Global Health Congress, an international event that convenes global leaders, experts, and policymakers to explore the dynamic relationship between population, health and development. The conference, which took place at the New Administrative Capital, organized by the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population in collaboration with leading international organizations, serves as a prominent platform for fostering international cooperation and sharing innovative solutions to improve global health outcomes.
British Ambassador to Egypt Gareth Bayley attended the opening session, underlining the UK’s unwavering commitment to global health and food security.
The conference featured an insightful panel discussion on “Ensuring Food Security, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene for Growing Population Health (WASH),” with the participation of Leonard Tedd from the Global Directorate on Climate, Environment, and Health at the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO).
During the discussion, Tedd underscored the pivotal role of partnerships in the UK’s approach to global health and food security. Tedd emphasized that the UK places immense value on collaborations, especially bilateral ones, which have been strengthened with Egypt. This partnership has gained significance as Egypt took over the presidency from the UK for COP27 after the successful COP26. The UK has also committed £1.5 billion to nutrition-sensitive programming globally between 2022 and 2030 and is actively engaged with Egypt on food security initiatives. Additionally, the UK is directly funding initiatives to enhance WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) systems in various communities.
Other distinguished panelists included Dr. Ayoub Al-Jawaldeh, WHO Regional Adviser on Nutrition; Dr. Ihab Abdelaziz, WASH Officer at UNICEF; Professor Amal Elbeshbishi, Senior Economist at the UNECA Office for North Africa, and other esteemed experts.
Anthony Lowther, Director of Healthcare and Life Sciences at the UK Department for Business and Trade-Africa, also attended the Congress and joined a panel on the last day of the event, discussing private and public partnerships in the healthcare sector.
He said: “Africa is on a revolutionary healthcare journey. There is now a real determination to deliver quality care pathways – for more patients, in more African countries. The UK is uniquely placed to be able to offer world class innovation – not only in products and services – but also in academic, clinical and operational excellence. These are all necessary components in establishing a sustainable healthcare environment that will benefit patients and improve outcomes for generations to come.”
Furthermore, British-Swedish pharmaceutical company Astrazeneca took part in the congress’s exhibition, emphasizing the UK’s dedication to fostering innovative partnerships that drive progress in global health.
Just earlier this year, the Egyptian Authority for Unified Procurement launched the second phase of the Health Technology Assessment System cooperation with the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), in efforts to ensure equitable access to health technologies.
In that regard, the UK remains committed to advancing these critical global health discussions and partnerships that aim to secure a healthier and more sustainable future for all.
