VODAN Africa Scientists and Researchers Join Other Leaders to Demand Global Response of Collaboration with Africa on COVID-19 following Omicron Outbreak
On Monday, November 29th, 2021, VODAN Africa Board scientists and researchers led by the Global Coordinator Prof. Mirjam van Reisen and Prof Ronald De Jong, Professor of Practice Tilburg University, and other leaders across Africa, Europe, and America to demand a global response following the reporting of the Omicron variant by the South African Government.
The letter was sent to Mr. Josep Borrell Fontelles, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice President European Commission, and Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
“We, over a hundred academics and leaders from Europe, Africa, US and elsewhere, are concerned with the lack of action for vaccination in Africa and solidarity with Africa.
“The COVID-19 Variant of Concern, Omicron, reported by the South African government on 24th of November, must be a reset of the global response to curb the pandemic.”
According to them, there is vaccine inequality around the world especially when rich countries have been buying most of the world’s supplies without any strategy to fulfill the needs of low-income countries.
“With 63% of people in high-income countries fully vaccinated, just 1.4% of people in low-income countries are fully vaccinated (Amnesty International, quoting Our World in Data, 21.10.2021). The vaccine inequality is shocking”
A Call for Global Solidarity
These leaders called for a global strategy that must include a plan to protect Africa.
“Omicron points to the need for global solidarity – as a moral imperative as well as out of sheer self-interest. New Variants of Concern will continue to emerge and are likely to become increasingly dangerous in the absence of such a strategy. There is no way that isolation of Africa could be the solution to this problem. We ask that the response is based on science.”
3 Point Action to be followed
- Financial and technical support to the establishment of vaccine production sites in Africa.
- An immediate plan to transfer vaccines to Africa to start widespread vaccination programmes.
- Assistance in widespread vaccination campaigns and building trust in the effectiveness on vaccinations.
Sincerely
Hon Fortune Z Charumbira, Acting President, Pan African Parliament
Lilianne Ploumen, former Minister of Development Cooperation and International Trade, Leader of the Labour Party, Member of the House of Representatives, The Netherlands
Prof Ronald de Jong, Professor of Practice, Tilburg University, The Netherlands
Paul Polman, Former CEO Unilever, The Netherlands
Prof Dr Francis B. Nyamnjoh, Professor of Social Anthropology, University of Cape Town, South Africa
Prof Dr Mouhamad Mpezamihigo, Vice Chancellor Kampala International University, Chair Virus Outbreak Data Network (VODAN)-Africa, Uganda
Dr Lieve Fransen, Senior policy advisor EPC and Director health support at the Wits University South Africa
Myles Axton, Editor in Chief, Advanced Genetics
Prof Dr Munyaradzi Mawere, Chief Scientist, Great Zimbabwe University, Co-Chair FAIR Implementation Network Africa, Zimbabwe
Cllr Hon Tolbert Nyenswah, Former Deputy Minister of Health Liberia. Senior Research Associate Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA
Wim Leereveld, Founder Access to Medicine Foundation, The Netherlands
Habtom H. Habte, PhD, Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceuticals, Spring House, Pennsylvania, USA
Koos Richelle, former DG international cooperation
Hon Bernice Dahn, Former Minister of Health Liberia, Dean of Faculty of Medical School Liberia
Prof Dr Mahaman TIDJANI ALOU, Prof of Political science, University Abdou Moumounl, and permanent reseacher of lasdel, Niamey, Niger
Prof Dr Mark Musen, Biomedical Informatics, Stanford University, USA
Bram van Ojik, Former Leader of the Green Left Party, The Netherlands
Dr Bassirou Tidjani, Professor of Business, University of Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, Senegal
Foad Aodi, Unione medica euro Mediterranea (UMEM), Associazone medici di origine straniera in Italia (AMSI), Italy
Mariam Basajja, Leiden Institute for Advanced Computer Science, Leiden University
Habteab B. Feseha, MD, Interventional Cardiology, Yuma, Arizona, USA
Julia Duncan-Cassell, Former Minister of Gender and Social Protection, Liberia
Prof Dr Mirjam van Reisen, International Relations, Innovation and Care, Tilburg University and Professor FAIR Data Science, Leiden University Medical Centre, The Netherlands
Prof Dr Francisca Onaolapo Oladipo, Federal University of Lokoja, Nigeria
Chief Benn Tommy Yomi AINA, University Chief Counselling Psychologist Federal University Lokoja Kogi State Nigeria
Nusula Naluzze, Entrepreneur, South Africa
Dr Jamal Mohamed Warsame, East Africa University, Somalia
Dr Jerusalem Tesfai, Prevenative Health Researcher and community Activists, Oakland, CA, USA.
Kibrom Fikadu Berhe, Mekelle University, Ethiopia
Dr Ibrahim ABDULLAHI, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai. Nigeria
Prof Dr Nancy Bocken, Sustainable Business, Maastricht University, The Netherlands
Dr Sakinat Oluwabukonla Folorunsa, Olabasi Onabanjo University, Nigeria
Prof Dr ir Hein Fleuren, Director Zero Hunger Lab, Tilburg University, The Netherlands
Susan Aloyo, Kampala International University, Uganda
Dr Bawaga Ibrahim, Hoima International Research and Referral Hospital, Uganda
Prof Dr Tegawendé F. Bissyandé, University of Luxembourg and Université Joseph Ki-Zerbo, Luxembourg and Burkina Faso
Prof Dr Kinfe Abrha Gebreegziabher, Mekelle University, Ethiopia
Fredrick Obwanda, Accounting and finance advisor, Kenya
Paddy Maguinness, Advisor International Cooperation, Ireland
Dr Demoz Abraha Weldemichael, General Surgeon, Kampala International Research and Referral Hospital, Uganda
Selam Kidane, Release Eritrea, UK
Muluberhan Temelso Mengesha, Human Rights for Eritrea, The Netherlands, Eritrea
Prof Dr Barend Mons, Leiden University Medical Centre, The Netherlands
Dr Meriem Ghardallou, University de Sousse, Tunisia
Dr Tomas Solomon, Research and Development manager, Northrop Grumman
Erick Yuma, Kampala International University, Uganda
Allen Mukandayisenga, Kampala International University, Uganda
Cornelia Toelgyes, Africa Express, Italy
Piermario Puliti, Ministry of Higher Education, Italy
Jaja Rose Asonganyi, Entrepreneur, Cameroon
Gusite Balyejusa, Kampala International University, Uganda
Ashaba Tinah, student, Kenya
Charity Natukunda, Entrepreneur, Uganda
Klara Smits, Tilburg University, The Netherlands
Jamyler Nagujja, Entrepreneur, Uganda
Deqa Ibrahim, Student, Somalia
Anthony Wachira, Strathmore University, Kenya
Dr Jan Jans, Research Network Globalisation, Innovation, Accessibility and Care, Tilburg University, The Netherlands
Sasha Kirabo Sheila, Sasha entrepreneur, Uganda
Kristina Melicherova, Tilburg University, The Netherlands
Esther Nampala, Entrepreneur , Uganda
Abdullahi Kawu, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Nigeria
Oluwole Olumuyiwa Afolabi, Kampala International University, Uganda
Maria Mwagale, Student, Uganda
Jamira Nabaggala, Entrepreneur, Uganda
Dr Araya Abrha Medhanyie, Ayder Hospital Research and Referral University, Mekelle University, Ethiopia
Misha Stocker, Public Policy Advisor EU, Belgium
Shakira Nabaggala, Entrepreneur, Uganda
Elizabeth Abiola Adegoke, entrepreneur, Nigeria
Shamim Basajja, Uganda
Quinta Onditi, Entrepreneur, Kenya
Dr Bernard Chazovachii, Dean Faculty of Social Science, Great Zimbabwe University, Zimbabwe
Julia Kuria, Legal officer, Kenya
Courtney C. Tidjani, Pharmacist, USA
Dr Bertha Vallejo, Associate Researcher, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
Getu Tadelle Taye, Senior Lecturer, Mekelle University, Ethiopia
Rita Ayebare, Entrepreneur, Uganda
Yordanos Habtemariam, Doctor of Pharmacy, Rph, USA
Amina Khalef, Entrepreneur, Kenya
Dr Mahlet Mehari, School of Public Health, Mekelle University, Ethiopia
Rhemiels Rhemiels, Entrepreneur, Uganda
Anishah Senna, Entrepreneur, Uganda
Ibrahim Sserebe, Kampala International University, Uganda
Putu Hati Purnama Jati, PhD Student, Indonesia
Latifah Nalubyayi, Student, Uganda
Kokob Gebru, School of Public Health, Mekelle University, Ethiopia
Lynet Basajja Entrepreneur Uganda
Prof Dr Hassan Boubakry, University of Sousse, Tunisia
Lilian Mulwa, Entrepreneur Kenya
Joëlle Stocker, Student Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
Sheila Basajja, Student, Uganda
Costain Tandi, Lecturer, Great Zimbabwe University, Zimbabwe
William Muhadi Nandwa, VODAN-Kenya, Epidemiologist, Kenya
Samson Yohannes Amare, School of Computing, Mekelle University, Ethiopia
Ernest Edozie, Kampala International University, KIU
Jan C. Fransoo, Professor of Operations and Logistics Management, Tilburg University, Tilburg School of Economics and Managements
Obinna Osigwe, Virus Outbreak Data Network, Kampala International University, Uganda
Benoit Lannoo, Consultant in Ecumenical, Interfaith & Interreligious Dialogue, Policy Strategies & Communication, Belgium
Sherifatu Adama, Doctor of Pharmacy, Rph, USA
Am Nambobi Mutwalibi, Computer Science Department, Kampala International University, Uganda
Mr Ahmed Elzober, Human Rights Activist Al Katim Centre for Human Enlightenment, Kampala Uganda
Charlotte Daemen, Research Assistant UMC Utrecht, The Netherlands
Dr Astier Alem Internal Medicine, Nephrology Seattle,Washington State USA
Akandinda Mildred, Lecturer Social Science Department, Kampala International University, Uganda
Jasper Kuipers, Dokters van de Wereld (Doctors of the World), The Netherlands
Dr Reginald Nalugala, Institute of Social Transformation Tangaza University College, Nairobi Kenya
Prof Joseph Adero Ngala, International Relation and Diplomacy at United States International University, Nairobi Kenya