Date: 2017-10-10 14:52:00 ID: 1731
Praia, 10 October – From 8 to 10 October, the Director General of the West Africa Health organisation (WAHO), Dr Xavier CRESPIN undertook a working visit to Cape Verde to discuss with the authorities the establishment of the National Coordination Institution and the national platform on “ONE HEALTH” approach.
Dr Crespin first of all had a working session with the NGO CORDS, which will lead the health systems evaluation, similar to the one carried out in the other countries. Thereafter, following a preliminary meeting with a Minister of health, the DG/WAHO was received by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Agriculture/Livestock/Environment.
He then held working session with senior management of the Ministry of health and the ECOWAS desk covering the Ministry of health (together with the DG of Environment, livestock and Agriculture). On the agenda for the discussions was the implementation of the various decisions taken by the ECOWAS conference of Heads of State and Government on disease surveillance on control. The DG reassured his audience of the availability of WAHO to supported efforts made by the State in the area of health.
With members of Government the DG of WAHO held more specific discussions on the state of the progress of negotiations with the World Bank towards obtaining a support project for the health sector, similar to the Regional Disease Surveillance Systems Enhancement (REDISSE) project in West Africa currently implemented in most member countries ECOWAS to strengthen health systems and particularly NCIs.
Dr Crespin recalled the principal areas of intervention of the NCIs, which are surveillance and early warning; strengthening of laboratories; establishment of a rapid intervention task force; and finally training and research. The DG of WAHO took the opportunity to visit the INSP laboratory, which is equipped partly with support from WAHO.