The West African Health Organisation (WAHO) is organising, from 30 April to 2 May 2025 in Praia (Cabo Verde), the Annual Meeting of the National Steering Committees for Financial Support to ECOWAS Member States.
This strategic gathering aims to assess the functioning of the national steering committees, review WAHO’s financial support to countries and the results achieved, and share experiences, strengths, weaknesses, lessons learned, and future perspectives. The meeting brings together members of the
national steering committees, including ECOWAS Resident Representatives, members of the ECOWAS
Administration and Finance Committee (AFC), ECOWAS parliamentarians, WAHO focal points within the Ministries of Health, country project financial managers of WAHO, and the Organisation’s internal team.
The opening ceremony featured remarks by Mr Demétrio Rendall, Director of Planning at the Ministry of
Health of Cabo Verde, representing the Minister of Health; Mr Francis Semporé, Executive Director of the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), acting as the Interim Resident Representative of ECOWAS in Cabo Verde; and the official keynote address by WAHO Director-General, Dr Melchior AÏSSI.
In his welcome address, the representative of the Minister of Health of Cabo Verde highlighted the significance of this meeting as a platform for taking stock of WAHO’s country-level support, identifying challenges, and promoting best practices in the management of funds allocated to improving the living conditions of populations.
The Interim Resident Representative of ECOWAS in Cabo Verde, for his part, expressed appreciation to WAHO for its excellent collaboration with the Resident Representation Office. “This meeting is an opportunity to ensure the improved implementation of projects across Member States,” he noted, also commending the Ministry of Health for its consistent efforts to successfully implement WAHO projects in the country. He concluded by expressing hope for a fruitful meeting that would contribute to sustainable development across Africa.
In his official opening address, the Director-General of WAHO, Dr AÏSSI, underscored the importance of rigorous and collaborative management in a global context marked by declining health funding. He also recalled the major actions undertaken in 2024 in the areas of access to essential healthcare, health security, and regional production of medicines and vaccines
