The African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) and Mercy Ships have announced a partnership aimed at improving surgical care across Africa.
This collaboration, which was consummated during the 2024 World Policy Conference in Abu Dhabi last December and formally announced on Tuesday, marks a pivotal step in Africa’s progress toward universal health coverage (UHC) and equitable access to essential surgical care.
This milestone was formalized through a memorandum of understanding, underscoring their shared commitment to strengthening health systems and expanding access to safe, high-quality surgical care for underserved communities across the continent, according to a statement received by APA late Tuesday.
Africa faces an urgent need for surgical care, with approximately 93 percent of the population in sub-Saharan Africa lacking timely and affordable access to surgical interventions.
The collaboration between AUDA-NEPAD and Mercy Ships aims to address these challenges by leveraging AUDA-NEPAD’s mandate to enhance health systems and Mercy Ships’ expertise in surgical services and capacity building.
“This memorandum of understanding represents a significant step toward bridging critical gaps in surgical care across Africa,” said Nardos Bekele-Thomas, CEO of AUDA-NEPAD.
She added: “By combining AUDA-NEPAD’s expertise in health systems strengthening with Mercy Ships’ experience in surgical services, we aim to transform healthcare, reaching millions across the continent.”
The partnership will bolster health systems across Africa by advancing policy frameworks for sustainable surgical care.
It will offer training for healthcare professionals, attract investments to improve medical infrastructure and equipment, and support the local production of essential supplies. Public awareness campaigns and health promotion efforts will prioritize surgical care in national health programs.
Dr. Juliette Tuakli, Mercy Ships Ambassador for Africa, said her organisation was” honored to partner with AUDA-NEPAD, the African Union’s leading development agency, to bring more hope and healing to millions across the continent.”
“Together, we can bridge surgical care gaps and improve countless lives by contributing to the establishment of strong, sustainable health systems.”
This partnership aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3, which seeks to ensure health and well-being for all. Guided by a joint action plan, the collaboration outlines clear outcomes and timelines to achieve the memorandum’s objectives.
TE/lb/jn/APA