‘ANME: Moving Forward’ Conference Concludes in Khartoum

We, Ministers of Health and representatives of the Health Authorities of: Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Djibouti, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda, Zimbabwe, attending the international workshop “ANME, Moving Forward” held at the Salam Centre for Cardiac Surgery. The event is jointly organized by the Republic of the Sudan Ministry of Health, the Republic of the Sudan Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the international NGO EMERGENCY.  

Bearing in mind that strengthening national health systems in middle- and low-income countries is a commonly recognised critical factor in striving to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); 

Understanding that Universal Health Coverage will be achieved only when access to safe, timely, affordable and equitable health services will be improved; 

Reaffirming the principle that healthcare is a fundamental right of every individual, as stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; 

Recalling the principles of Equality, Quality and Social Responsibility stated in the Manifesto for a Human Rights-Based Medicine, calling for the delivery of high-quality and free of charge healthcare for all; 

Recognizing the lack of facilities that can provide specialized free of charge treatment in our countries; 

Appreciating that several diseases require access to long-term care to improve the outcome and their quality of life; 

Drawing the attention that Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs), represent an emerging global health threat and are on the rise in Africa; 

Strongly convinced that a patient-centred approach will improve the patient’s care and quality of life;  

Underlining the importance of developing future generations of health workforce to address the main epidemiological conditions in the African region, thus strengthening health systems and mitigating brain drain;  

Highlighting the fundamental role that Centres of Medical Excellence can have in guaranteeing specialized training; 

Recognising the pivotal role of scientific and professional exchange to strengthen healthcare systems and research;  

Considering the crucial role of regional cooperation to ensure proper access to specialised care, knowledge sharing, and promote the circulation of human resources; 

Understanding that the highest political endorsement will be needed to strengthen ANME; 

Fully aware that adequate recognition and endorsement from international and regional stakeholders will be necessary for the growth of ANME; 

Emphasizing that investing in healthcare is a main contribution towards Countries development and economic growth; 

Stressing the importance of finding feasible financial instruments that will enable resources mobilization to guarantee an adequate funding; 

Considering the experiences of the Salam Centre for Cardiac Surgery in Sudan and the Children’s Surgical Hospital in Uganda as an example that this model can be feasible, sustainable and replicable;  

We hereby, commit to: 

1. Improve regional cooperation amongst ANME countries and partners to guarantee prevention, early diagnosis, timely treatment and adequate continuity of care; 
2. Guarantee support for patients’ selection, movement and follow up in their home Country;
3. Foster the relations amongst ANME countries, regional training institutions and EMERGENCY in order to strengthen the training component and facilitate the sharing of knowledge;
4. Establish a collaborative research infrastructure including an IT platform to address health system’s issues relevant for the ANME Countries;
5. Gain the highest and broadest political endorsement in order to promote the ANME model inside our own countries;
6. Appoint a focal point that will be in charge to represent our own Countries within the Network;
7. Jointly advocate to promote the ANME model within the international community, especially towards regional bodies such as the African Union and the European Union;
8. Identify the most adequate tools that will provide sustainable financing for the network in the short-, medium- and long term;
9. Create and participate in a Coordination Mechanism that will provide guidance and improve the effectiveness of ANME implementation and planning;
10. To fully support and participate to ANME joint activities, meetings and conferences. 

Dated Thursday 2nd February 2023. Khartoum, Sudan 

Ministers of Health and representatives of Health Authorities of: 

 Chad: H.E Dr. Abdelrahim Mahamat Abdelmadjid 

Somalia: H.E Dr. Ali Hajiadam Abubakar 

Sudan: H.E Dr. Heitham Mohammed Ibrahim Awadalla 

Zimbabwe: H.E Dr. Amon Murwira 

Uganda: H.E Anifa Kawooya Bangirana 

Burundi: Dr. Olivier Nijimbere 

Central African Republic: Dr. John Francis Onambele 

Djibouti: Dr. Sahra Moussa Bouh 

Democratic Republic of Dr. Jules Biselenge Katusi
the Congo:

Egypt: Dr. Amer Samieh 

Eritrea: Dr. Yohannes Teclegiorgis Tewelde 

Ethiopia: Dr. Daniel Gebremichael Burssa 

Niger: Mme. Aissa Hamma 

Nigeria: Dr. Mukhtar Yawale Muhammad 

South Sudan: Dr. Janet Kemisa Michael