London, August 25, 2020 (AltAfrica)-Health Ministers and representatives from African countries will on Wednesday, August 25, 2020 meet virtually for the Seventieth session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa.

The Regional Committee is the WHO decision-making body in the region, convening once a year to discuss and endorse policies, activities and financial plans to improve people’s health.

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Due to COVID-19, this annual meeting is being held online for the first time with an abridged agenda. Among the key issues to be discussed are the COVID-19 pandemic and the certification of Africa as free of wild polio virus.

The more than 500 participants include WHO Director-General Tedros Gebreyesus; WHO Regional Director for Africa: Dr Matshidiso Moeti, Ministers of Health and officials from 47 Member States, as well as representatives from United Nations agencies, intergovernmental organizations, civil society, academia and other development partners will join the health minister for the virtual meeting

#COVID19 update in Africa…
24 August 2020 as of 9am EAT.
Total cases…1,187,937
Total deaths… 27, 779 &
Recoveries… 906,691. Find more info..👉🏾 https://t.co/7xkrFH4etK #AfricaResponds #TestTraceTreat #WearAMask #FactsNotFear #COVID19. pic.twitter.com/qElGI7p8WY

— Africa CDC (@AfricaCDC) August 24, 2020

A little more than six months since the first COVID-19 cases in Africa, the continent has recorded more than 1.1 million cases. Early action by countries helped to slow down the spread of the virus.

Although the continent has not experienced the exponential rise in cases seen in other parts of the world, the pandemic has highlighted weaknesses in health systems in the region, including infrastructure, inadequate staffing and access to medical supplies and equipment.

The health ministers session will provide a comprehensive overview of the COVID-19 pandemic situation in the African Region and discuss ways of building resilient health systems.

During the event, the independent Africa Regional Certification Commission (ARCC) for Polio Eradication will officially certify the WHO African Region as free of wild poliovirus.

The WHO African Region recorded its last case of wild polio virus in August 2016.

Two decades earlier, African leaders committed to eradicating polio from the continent. Thanks to the relentless efforts by governments, donors, frontline health workers and communities up to 1.8 million children have been saved from the crippling life-long paralysis.

WHAT: Virtual Seventieth session of WHO Regional Committee for Africa

WHEN: 25 August 2020 starting at 08:30 GMT

WHERE: www.facebook.com/WHOAFRO & www.youtube.com/WHOAfricanRegion