The Second Task Force meeting for the establishment of the African Volunteer Heath Corps (AVoHC) commenced on 22nd February at the African Union Headquarters.

The meeting  organized by the African Union Department of Social Affairs brings together participants from AU Member States, Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies(IFRC), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), World Health Organization (WHO), Africa against Ebola Solidarity Trust, The American Heart Association (AHA), United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA ), Institute Pasteur Dakar, US Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), China, European Union (EU ), Japan as well as the relevant departments from the AUC. The second task force meeting is convened following the mandate by AU member states to establish an African Volunteer Health Corps that will be deployed during disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies and threats.

The objective of the meeting is to finalize the developed draft proposal that was presented in Addis Ababa on 30th November to 1st December 2015 following the preparatory meeting in Mahe, Seychelles from 26-28 October 2015, and make concrete recommendations to the Policy Organs for endorsement on the establishment of an African Volunteer Health Corps (AVoHC) to be deployed during disease outbreaks and other health emergencies. Furthermore the meeting will deliver a comprehensive and concise roadmap for the establishment and functioning AVoCH by 2016, express commitment of key partners to collaborate and synergize action for the operationalization of the AVoHC.

Ambasssador. Olawale Maiyegun, Director of Social Affairs speaking at the opening ceremony said it was necessary to respond to health challenges arising on the continent. Amb. Olawale underscored the role played by the AUC on the fight against Ebola in West Africa and informed the meeting that the (AVoHC) initiative has the support of AUC Chairperson. He further encouraged the meeting to come up with concrete recommendations for the operationalization of AVoHC. 

Dr. Benjamin Djoudalbaye Senior Health Officer from the Social Affairs Department during the opening ceremony mentioned that the EU has established their own volunteer Corps which galvanized the AUC to finalize the draft proposal and make concrete recommendations to the policy organs for endorsement.  Dr. Djoudalbaye further presented the AVoHC proposal, stressing that the frequency and magnitude of public health emergencies in Africa is increasing and the AVoHC will go a long way in contributing to reduction in morbidity and mortality and subsequently mitigate the social and economic impact of disasters/crises, health emergencies whenever they occur in Africa. In his conclusion Mr. Djoudalbaye said that a set mechanism for providing rapid and effective responses to public health emergencies, matters of global concern including health impacts of natural disasters and humanitarian crises to Member States will enhance Africa’s emergency response capacity during crises. The senior health officer also noted that there will be a Joint meeting of Ministers for Health organized by AUC and WHO in Tunis on the 18th of April 2016 to further discuss the issue.

The meeting is set to conclude on the 23rd of February 2016.