Egypt’s COVID Assistance & Leadership in Africa

Policy Briefs Program

June 2022

​

Egypt’s COVID Assistance & Leadership in Africa

Egypt’s COVID Aid Announcement:

• During Africa Health ExCon, held on June 5, Egyptian President al-Sisi announced an initiative to grant approximately 30 million doses of coronavirus vaccine to countries around Africa.
• This is part of partnership efforts between Egypt and various African countries.
• ExCon offered to receive African patients in hospitals in Egypt and provide aid for them, thus minimizing the need for patients to travel to European countries.

What is Africa Health ExCon?

• On Sunday, June 5, 2022, Africa Health ExCon, Africa’s first and biggest medical exhibition and conference, launched under the slogan ‘Your Gate to Innovation and Trade.’
• Lasting from June 5-7, ExCon was inaugurated by Egyptian President el-Sisi and hosted in al-Manara International Conference Center in Cairo, Egypt.
• More than 250 medical companies from over 100 countries participated in the conference, as well as politicians and a multitude of medical professors and experts from diverse backgrounds. 
• Egyptian President el-Sisi, Prime Minister Madbouly, and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Abdel-Ghaffar were present, among other government officials.
• Approximately 350 sessions and 20 workshops were showcased in ExCon, highlighting the latest sustainable medical technologies and initiatives, such as the Egyptian Cervical Cancer Elimination initiative.
• ExCon’s main vision for the future is to position Africa as the continental center for health innovations and technological advances, while also refocusing the global health and pharmaceutical industries to Africa.
• The conference identified and launched twelve recommendations for African governments to improve health conditions, including administering HVB vaccinations after birth to help eliminate the spread of Hepatitis B and C.
• According to Abdel-Ghaffar, Egypt will host the second Africa Health ExCon on June 8, 2023. These conferences are anticipated to be held annually.

Egypt’s Role in Africa:

• Historically, Egypt has played a major role in African leadership, holding one of the largest populations and economies in the continent. 
• However, the 1995 attempted assassination of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Ethiopia’s capital prompted Egypt to be largely absent from the continental scene. 
• Since becoming Egypt’s president in 2014, however, el-Sisi has strived to make Egypt the voice of Africa, exemplified through medical, banking, and infrastructure investments.
• In February 2019, el-Sisi became Chair of the Assembly of the African Union (AU), strengthening his relationships with other African countries and increasing Egypt’s impact on the continent.
• During his one-year rotating position, selected by the Assembly of 55 member states, el-Sisi tackled issues such as debt and climate change and improved organizational aspects of the AU Commission.