At A.U. Summit, Ebola, Food Security, Women’s Empowerment Top Agendas

Agence France-Presse: Ebola reveals shortcomings of African solidarity
“As Africa’s leaders meet in Ethiopia to discuss the Ebola crisis, expectations of firm action will be tempered by criticism over the continent’s poor record in the early stages of the epidemic…” (Lebhour/Taggart, 1/31).

Inter Press Service: Ending Hunger in Africa
“…One of the key issues discussed at the 24th African Union Summit, which ended here on Jan. 31, was food security within the broader of framework of development towards Agenda 2063 — an agenda that touches on many aspects of where Africa should be 50 years from now…” (van der Wolf, 2/1).

U.N. News Centre: At African Union Summit, Ban promises U.N. support to build back Ebola-hit countries
“Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon [on Friday] assured African leaders gathered for a summit in Addis Ababa of the support of the United Nations in helping the countries affected by Ebola ‘build back stronger than ever,’ while the head of the U.N. development agency tasked with leading the organization’s recovery efforts urged the world to stay the course in aiding hard-hit West Africa…” (1/30).

Xinhua: Interview: U.N. to support women empowerment programs in Africa: official
“The United Nations will support programs that accelerate the attainment of gender-related millennium targets in Africa, a senior U.N. official said Saturday. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, the executive director of U.N. Women, said the global body will partner with African states to promote the empowerment of women and girls…” (Lagat, 1/31).

Xinhua: Africa Focus: African first ladies vow action on maternal health, gender violence
“The wives of African presidents on Saturday vowed to rejuvenate the fight against maternal health, gender violence, and discrimination to ensure women are critical players in the continent’s development. Speaking on the sidelines of the ongoing A.U. summit in Addis Ababa, the first ladies endorsed a raft of strategies to promote women’s health and economic empowerment…” (Lagat, 1/31).

The KFF Daily Global Health Policy Report summarized news and information on global health policy from hundreds of sources, from May 2009 through December 2020. All summaries are archived and available via search.

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