‘ANME: Moving Forward’ Conference Concludes in Khartoum

On 1st and 2nd February, EMERGENCY and the Sudanese Federal Ministry of Health hosted the ‘ANME: Moving Forward’ conference in Khartoum, attended by representatives and delegates from 15 African nations: Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Djibouti, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda and Zimbabwe.  

Together, we discussed the next steps for building a network of Centres of Medical Excellence and high-level specialist training in Africa, based on the principles of Equality, Quality, Social Responsibility. 
So far, ANME has two facilities – the Salam Centre for Cardiac Surgery in Khartoum, and the Children’s Surgical Hospital in Entebbe, Uganda – and training programmes for local medics, nurses, and technicians to sustainably support local and regional health systems. ANME is also supported by the Regional Cardiac Programme, which identifies and assists patients from across the continent to reach the Salam Centre; the facility has treated patients from 32 countries.

 

Support from WHO Director-General Dr Tedros

On the first day of the conference, we were honoured to receive the support of Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization. In this video address, he praised EMERGENCY’s work in Sudan and across Africa:

 

By working together through networks like ANME, hospitals across Africa can share best practices in early recognition, timely management and appropriate referrals.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO

‘ANME, A Visionary Project’

EMERGENCY President Rossella Miccio concluded the two-day conference with this message:

We believe – and we have proved – that this model is feasible, sustainable, replicable. But above all, as we’ve all said here, this model is desirable. This is a joint vision and this is where we all want to go.
Rossella Miccio, President of EMERGENCY

Khartoum Declaration

The conference concluded with the Khartoum Declaration, signed by all delegations and committing signatories to promote the ANME health model within their own countries, establish collaborative research infrastructure and improve regional cooperation.  

Khartoum Declaration 2023 

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

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