Zambian Vice President Mutale Nalumango has called for deeper cooperation among Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) member States to enhance access to quality healthcare and bolster preparedness for future health threats.
Speaking at the Second Meeting of COMESA Ministers of Health on Thursday, August 14, she highlighted how the COVID-19 pandemic exposed weaknesses in medical supply chains and emergency response systems. Nalumango urged countries to expand local pharmaceutical production, improve disease surveillance and early warning systems, and safeguard supply chains during crises, stressing that science and solidarity must underpin policymaking.
She warned that the ongoing mpox outbreak and climate-related health emergencies illustrate the direct link between health security and economic security. Nalumango encouraged ministers to adopt strong resolutions and renew concrete commitments, noting that health is the foundation of national development. She emphasised that resilient health systems are crucial to a country’s capacity to respond to emergencies and sustain economic growth.
COMESA Secretary General Chileshe Kapwepwe echoed these sentiments, noting that health is central to the bloc’s regional agenda. She said COMESA has created a Health Desk to coordinate health programmes, mobilise resources, and build member states’ capacity in collaboration with development partners. Kapwepwe underscored that strong health systems are “economic enablers,” arguing that investment in health should be seen as a strategic driver of regional stability, productivity, and prosperity, rather than a cost.