Re: International Scientists and Leaders ask a Global Response of Collaboration with Africa on COVID-19 following Omicron Outbreak

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 result in a reset of the global response to curb the pandemic.

The science is absolutely clear: until everyone is vaccinated no one is safe.

While 63% of people in high-income countries are 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. Rich countries have been buying most of the world’s supplies without any strategy to fulfil the needs of low-income countries. The emergence of Omicron points to the need for global solidarity – as a moral imperative as well as out of sheer self-interest.

A global strategy to fight the pandemic must include a plan to protect Africa.

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.

 

Leadership is required in order to act now, and this should include:

1.     Financial and technical support for the establishment of vaccine production sites in Africa;

2.     An immediate plan to transfer vaccines to Africa to start widespread vaccination programmes;

3.     Assistance in wide-spread vaccination campaigns and for building trust in the effectiveness on vaccinations.

We ask that the EU together with nations around the world, to stand together in solidarity and for all responses to be based on science.

Sincerely,

 

Initial signatories:

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

Hon Zaminah Malole Baluka, President’s Office, Uganda

Habtom H. Habte, PhD, Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceuticals, Spring House, Pennsylvania, USA

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

Prof Dr Wolbert G.C. Smidt, Senior researcher at Jena University, adj. Prof. MU, Germany

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.

Dr Ibrahim ABDULLAHI, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai. Nigeria

Kibrom Fikadu Berhe, Mekelle University, Ethiopia

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

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

Charlotte Daemen, Research Assistant UMC Utrecht, The Netherlands

Mr Ahmed Elzober, Human Rights Activist Al Katim Centre for Human Enlightenment, Kampala Uganda

Dr Astier Alem Internal Medicine, Nephrology Seattle, Washington State, USA

Dr Reginald Nalugala, Institute of Social Transformation Tangaza University College, Nairobi, Kenya

Akandinda Mildred, Lecturer Social Science Department, Kampala International University, Uganda

Gosia Tarasiewicz, Network of East – West Women, Poland

Jasper Kuipers, Dokters van de Wereld (Doctors of the World), The Netherlands

Prof Joseph Adero Ngala, International Relation and Diplomacy at United States International University, Nairobi, Kenya