Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service) - Italy’s largest NGO for promoting and protecting the health of the people of Africa sends an appeal to the G8 nations in the light of more than 50 years of commitment in the field, presents its challenges: access to treatment (for AIDS TB and malaria), support and collaboration with health systems in African countries, university formation and scientific research.
On the occasion of the G8 meeting, 6 to 8 July in Gleneagles Scotland under the presidency of British premier Tony Blair which will see Africa and international commitment for the rebirth of the continent as main points on the agenda, Doctors with Africa CUAMM, first health NGO recognised in Italy, and Italy’s largest healthcare organisation for the promotion and protection of health in Africa, underscores the centrality of united commitment to defend the peoples of Africa’s absolute right to health. Doctors with Africa CUAMM says peoples of Africa must be guaranteed access to treatment and it calls on G8 counries to be “with Africa”, with concrete measures to give voice to African countries and those working at their side.
CUAMM promotes long term and emergency programmes supplying quality service open to all. It promotes university formation, scientific research in technical healthcare cooperation. It promotes values of solidarity and cooperation among peoples in institutions and public opinion. In fifty years of activity it has promoted hundreds of progarmmes and sent out more than 1000 operators for ongoing commitment. Today Doctors with Africa operates in Angola, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda with interventions of articularted healthcare cooperation in hospital and territorial activities mainly in rural areas. Its programmes are fully integrated in national and local health and social contexts, in a style of dialogue with public authorities and local religious institutions. Presently with 32 main programmes, 85 operators on the field, hundreds of local operators involved in activities and many interventions fo support, it is active in 20 hospitals; 14 districts for public health services, for mother-child care, fight against AIDS, TB and malaria, 6 nursing schools and 2 universities. (AP) (5/7/2005 Agenzia Fides; Righe:32; Parole:403)
