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The Speaker of the Economic Community of West African States Parliament, Hadja Ibrahima, on Tuesday, emphasised the critical role of the region’s parliament in addressing the challenges of healthcare and education in West Africa.
Ibrahima stated this at the delocalized meeting of the Joint Committee on Health, Education, Science and Culture, Committee on Telecommunications and Information Technology, and Committee on Industry and the Private Sector on the theme ‘Promoting health services and education in West Africa: the role of the ECOWAS Parliament” on Tuesday in Conakry, Guinea.
She pointed out the persistent issues of limited resources, inadequate infrastructure, and health disparities that plague many West African nations.
The speaker urged member states to strengthen local health systems, improve access to care, and integrate health education into school curricula.
“ECOWAS plays a crucial role in coordinating health policies within its Member States. The latter continually face the challenges of limited resources, inadequate healthcare infrastructures, health disparities, epidemic management, coordination between countries and training of healthcare professionals.
“It is in response to these challenges, which require continued focus and concerted efforts on the part of governments, non-governmental organisations and international partners, that this joint committee will endeavour to reflect on and formulate relevant recommendations aimed at strengthening local health systems, improving access to care and promoting community health,” the speaker said.
The speaker called for greater collaboration among ECOWAS member states, particularly in establishing regional coordination and information-sharing mechanisms.
She stressed the importance of prioritising increased health budgets to meet the growing demands of the region’s populations.
Ibrahima stated, “The fact that this delocalized meeting is being held here in the Republic of Guinea also allows me to draw to our collective attention the need to improve health policies in the ECOWAS region, to strengthen collaboration between member states by establishing regional coordination and information-sharing mechanisms, and to prioritize an increase in the budgets allocated to health.
