WASHINGTON, Feb. 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The
Constituency for Africa (CFA)
convened its first Africa Healthcare Infrastructure Forum on
February 6 at the Africa Union
Mission in Washington, DC.
The ground-breaking forum, led by CFA founder & president,
Melvin Foote, brought together
world-renowned healthcare and medical professionals, corporate
executives and high-ranking dignitaries to brainstorm solutions for
building sustainable healthcare infrastructure in African
countries.
The historic event began with a keynote address by award-winning
actor and social entrepreneur, Jeffrey C.
Wright. As Vice Chairman of Taia Lion Resources, Chairman of
Taia Peace Foundation and Co-Founder of the Ebola Survival Fund,
Wright spoke passionately about the devastation of the Ebola
epidemic on healthcare services in Africa and called for a new approach in
healthcare administration borrowing from the model used in the
Marshall Plan, which worked in Europe after the second world war.
"I think that we were highly successful in bringing together a
range of stakeholders from the US government, the African
Diplomatic Corps, the private sector, the NGO community and most
importantly, the African Diaspora, said Foote, founder &
president, CFA. "To have actor and social entrepreneur Jeffrey Wright, set the tone, was also a major
highlight of the event. It is rare to have such a
high-profile individual showcase his interest in the health and
welfare of Africa and of African
people."
Other noteworthy speakers at the event were Robert Mallet (President, Accordia Global Health
Foundation), Jessica Rookwood
(President, International Health Advisors), Donald Shriber (Deputy Director for Policy and
Communication, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention),
Pernessa Seele (Founder and CEO, The
Balm in Gilead, Inc) and Gregory
Simpkins (Senior Director, US House of Representatives,
Subcommittee on Africa), and 5
respondents, including Julia Royall
(Global Health Information Specialist), Dr. Gloria B. Herndon (CEO, GB Herndon &
Associates), Dr. Julius Garvey
(Garvey vascular Specialists), Dr. Arikana Chihombori (Chair, AU
African Diaspora Health Initiative) and Raymond C. Dabney (Chairman Board of Directors,
Cannabis Science Inc., and the Cannabis Science Research
Foundation.
The main objective of the Africa Healthcare Infrastructure Forum
resonated throughout the program underscoring the urgency for
sustainable healthcare systems in the continent. According to
Foote, the need has never been greater in the wake of the
continent's battle with HIV/AIDS and the more recent Ebola crisis
which killed thousands and compromised the economies of
Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia.
"It is important that CFA organizes itself to ensure that
promises made are kept," says Foote. "We need to keep the
focus of stakeholding organizations and institutions so they don't
lose sight of the daunting challenges facing the African continent
and African people".
About Constituency for Africa
The Constituency for Africa
(CFA) is one of the leading organizations in the United States committed to educating and
mobilizing the American public on matters pertaining to
Africa and the African Diaspora.
CFA has increased the level of cooperation and coordination among a
broad-based coalition of international organizations, businesses
and individuals committed to the progress, development, and
empowerment of Africa and African
people. CFA's stellar achievement in advocacy, education and
information dissemination has led to a greater understanding and
awareness of Africa among all
groups. The organization pioneered a popular series of Town Hall
Meetings on Africa across the US
to generate awareness on African policy issues and encourage
participation in the policy formulation process. CFA also organizes
the Ronald H. Brown African Affairs Series, held each year in
September in Washington, D.C., and
coinciding with the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Annual
Legislative Conference. The Series serves as a unique platform for
linking CBC members and their staff with Africa-focused organizations, African
diplomats and government policy-makers, as well as grassroots
community leadership. For more info, visit:
www.CFA-Network.org
MEDIA CONTACT
Ufuoma Otu, Constituency for
Africa Project Consultant
(202) 520-3012
uotu@take-culture.com
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SOURCE Constituency for Africa