COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.,
Feb. 11, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
Cannabis Science, Inc. (OTCQB: CBIS), a U.S. Company specializing
in cannabis formulation-based drug development and related
consulting, highlights additional attendees at the CFA African
Healthcare Infrastructure Forum and Brainstorm held at the African
Union, in Washington DC, on
February 6, 2015.
As previously announced, Cannabis Science President &
CEO, Raymond C. Dabney was appointed as the Vice Chair of
the newly launched Constituency for Africa (CFA) Africa
Healthcare Infrastructure Committee.
( www.cfa-network.org )
(https://www.facebook.com/pages/Constituency-for-Africa/347822291974589 )
The committee held its inaugural meeting on February 5,
2015 at the African Union Mission to discuss its charge from
CFA President, Mr. Melvin Foote, and to approve a conceptual
framework program of work. Building on the successful model by CFA
of using Town Hall formats and commissioning lectures to highlight
priorities, The Committee discussed to hold the Africa Healthcare
Infrastructure Forum & Brainstorm Session on February
6 at the African Union Mission in terms of the expected
outcome and to establish the five standing sub-committees on
EDUCATION, AGRICULTURE, FOOD SECURITY, TECHNOLOGY &
COMMUNICATION, LEADERSHIP, POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT & POLICY, and
HEALTHCARE INFRASTRUCTURE to develop and sustain programs in these
areas.
Mr. Dabney joined Dr. Roscoe M. Moore Jr. (retired US
Assistant Surgeon General) who is Interim Chair of CFA and also
Chair of the Africa Healthcare Infrastructure Committee, along with
13 others consisting of individuals with extensive experience
working in or with Africa in the public and private sectors at
the African Union for the African healthcare brainstorm
session.
Among them is Dr. Julius Garvey, an accomplished board
certified surgeon specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of
cardiovascular disease, the son of the legendary
pan-Africanist Marcus Garvey Jr., Dr. Sam Mbulaiteye, who is a senior investigator at
the National Cancer Institute, and Prof. Allen Herman, an
independent public health consultant who was the founding Dean of
the National School of Public Health, Medical School
of Southern Africa in South Africa.
The Africa Healthcare Infrastructure Forum & Brainstorm
Session was held on February 6, 2015 at the African Union
Mission in a historic event graced by a Keynote speech by
award-winning Actor and Social Entrepreneur, Jeffery C.
Wright, who spoke passionately and intimately about the devastation
of the Ebola epidemic on healthcare services
in Africa and, recalling Albert
Einstein's definition of insanity, doing the same thing over
and over again and expecting different results, he called for a new
approach borrowing from the model used in the Marshall Plan, which
worked in Europe after the second world war.
The meeting was addressed by Mr. Tarek
Ben Youssef, Senior Political Officer in the African Union
Mission as host who represented the AU permanent representative
Amina Salum Ali, who was delayed
returning from the African Union Summit in Addis Abeba.
The 5 panelists who followed Mr. Jeffrey
Wright were Mr. Robert Mallet (President Accordia
Global Health Foundation), Ms. Jessica
Rookwood (President of International Health Advisors),
Mr. Donald Shriber (Deputy Director for Policy and
Communication, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention),
Dr. Pernessa Seele (Founder and CEO, The Balm in Gilead,
Inc) and Mr. Gregory Simpkins (Senior Director, US House
of Representatives, Sub-committee on Africa).
Five people responding to the panel were Ms. Julia
Royall (Global Health Information Specialist), Dr. Gloria
B. Herndon (CEO GB Herndon & Associates), Dr. Julius
Garvey (Garvey vascular Specialists), Dr. Arikana Chihombori
(Chair, African Diaspora Health Initiative, African Union) and
Mr. Raymond C. Dabney (Chairman Board of Directors,
Cannabis Science Inc., and the Cannabis Science Research
Foundation).
The Africa Healthcare Infrastructure Forum & Brainstorm
Session, coming on the heels of the 24th meeting of
the African Union and the unprecedented international response to
the Ebola epidemic, is poised to play a unique and catalytic role
to radically transform the global health agenda
of Africa from one that lurches from one crisis response
to another crisis response to one that is built on health system
strengthening, engagement of African communities and professionals,
and long-term training and infrastructure investment.
Cannabis Science and the Cannabis Science Research Foundation,
through its Chairman Raymond C. Dabney, is pleased to be
associated with this historic session, and with the work of CFA,
and to join the African Union and partner institutions to re-shape
the debate and implementation healthcare reform and investment
in Africa. Agreeing with keynote speaker, Jeffrey C.
Wright, that the responsibility of healthcare lies with local
governments in Africa, thus healthcare system
strengthening.
Mr. Dabney believes and re-affirmed that Cannabis Science and
the Cannabis Science Research Foundation would respond
with urgency and seriousness of purpose, the Africa to
support long-term efforts to rebuild Africa's healthcare
infrastructure along the priorities established by the Africa
Healthcare Infrastructure Committee. This work will include
education and training to replace workers lost in epidemics such as
the HIV/AIDS and the Ebola epidemics, revitalization of
agriculture, and leadership training. The legacy of the Ebola
epidemic in Guinea, Sierra
Leone and Liberia should not be a Cassandra Curse,
but a vibrant partnership to do what is possible so Africans can
manage and deliver health to their own peoples – in other words
build the wealth of Africans by supporting the health of its
peoples.
"A healthy and vibrant Africa is good for everybody.
Imagine the potential of untapped resources
of Africa making their fair share contribution to the
global economy, including in agricultural production, drug
manufacturing and distribution. It is a big market; it is a big
supplier. I am personally honored to have been invited to serve on
the CFA Africa Healthcare Infrastructure Committee," said
Raymond C. Dabney. "We have
begun the process of bringing influential private and public
stakeholders together, as was clearly evident at the historic
session at the AU mission, to identify and begin closing the gaps
in Africa's infrastructure and health systems."
Mr. Dabney was impressed by all the attendees and presenters he
spoke with, they were all clearly eager to turn the page, break the
cycle of crisis management to long-term solutions. One good example
of a long-term solution is the creation of the African Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, described by Mr. Tarek Ben Youssef, to train and equip African
front line workers to detect, respond and stop epidemics in their
tracks. Another is the establishment, supporting and sustaining
African health centers of excellence, such as the Infectious
Diseases Institute in Uganda, described by Mr. Mallet.
"Clearly a lot is possible and there is no need to re-invent the
wheel," said Mr. Dabney. "But it will take will, focus,
determination, and a willingness to engage Africans, but it is
possible."
Goals of the CFA African Healthcare Infrastructure
Committee
Following a very positive response to the
committee's initial activity of the Africa Healthcare
Infrastructure Forum & Brainstorm Session at the AU Mission,
committee plans a fact-finding trip to Africa to visit
successful models, such as the Infectious Diseases Institute, the
African Field Epidemiology Network - AFENET model
(http://afenet.net/), and regional organizations such as the East
African Community to discuss initiatives and partnerships with
African government and business leaders.
The African Site Visit will be headed by the Mr. Dabney in his
capacity as Vice-Chair of the African Healthcare Infrastructure
Committee and Mr. Melvin Foote to explore opportunities
to develop projects and deploy boots on the ground for projects
discussed. The immediate projects will focus on identifying areas
of immediate collaboration with the consortium of businesses
already engaged to support education and training, food security
through agriculture and sanitation, technology and
telecommunication, leadership and policy training, and specific
health infrastructure issues. The imperative of initial
partnerships will be to create jobs and build skills to support the
African Health care infrastructure initiatives. "This
imitative makes sense for Cannabis Science, which clearly would
like to understand more about the potential of growth the company
in Africa," said Mr. Dabney.
Cannabis Science is seeking new regions to develop business for
low-cost cannabis-based therapeutics, which could also meet the
acute shortage of pain medications along with many other critical
ailment treatments in Africa.
About Cannabis Science, Inc.
Cannabis Science, Inc.,
takes advantage of its unique understanding of metabolic processes
to provide novel treatment approaches to a number of illnesses for
which current treatments and understanding remain unsatisfactory.
Cannabinoids have an extensive history dating back thousands of
years, and currently, there are a growing number of peer-reviewed
scientific publications that document the underlying biochemical
pathways that cannabinoids modulate. The Company works with leading
experts in drug development, medicinal characterization, and
clinical research to develop, produce, and commercialize novel
therapeutic approaches for the treatment for illnesses caused by
infections as well as for age-related illness. Our initial focus is
on skin cancers and neurological conditions.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Press Release
includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section
27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities
Act of 1934. A statement containing words such as "anticipate,"
"seek," intend," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "project,"
"plan," or similar phrases may be deemed "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Some or all of the events or results
anticipated by these forward-looking statements may not occur.
Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include
the future U.S. and global economies, the impact of competition,
and the Company's reliance on existing regulations regarding the
use and development of cannabis-based drugs. Cannabis Science,
Inc., does not undertake any duty nor does it intend to update the
results of these forward-looking statements.
Cannabis Science, Inc.
Raymond
C. Dabney
Director, President & CEO, Co-Founder
raymond@cannabisscience.com
Tel: 1.310.650.3788
Chad S. Johnson, Esq.
Director, COO & General Counsel
www.cannabisscience.com
Tel: 1.888.889.0888
RELATED LINKS
http://www.cfa-network.orghttp://www.cannabisscience.com
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SOURCE Cannabis Science, Inc.