Fondation Pierre Fabre celebrated 20 years of commitment to healthcare in the Global South
13/09/2019
The day brought together more than 300 leading figures from the scientific, medical, academic, humanitarian and institutional sectors in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and France, committed to improving access to healthcare in the Global South, at the Foundation’s headquarters in Lavaur (Tarn).
After a rewarding day of meetings and discussions over the course of the three round tables on global health issues central to the Foundation’s work, the day ended with an anniversary ceremony attended by Jean-Yves Le Drian, Europe and Foreign Affairs Minister, and Dr Denis Mukwege, winner of the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize.
“I want to express my sincere thanks to Fondation Pierre Fabre on behalf of my staff and on behalf of all survivors of sexual violence, who your support allows us to help on the path to recovery and the restoration of human dignity. In an inward-looking world, Fondation Pierre Fabre’s work demonstrates a show of solidarity that maintains our confidence in human nature,” Dr Denis Mukwege, Nobel Prize Winner 2018, said.
Jean-Yves Le Drian, Europe and Foreign Affairs Minister, stressed the global challenges of the fight for access to health. “The Foundation is doing exceptional work to enable people in southern countries, particularly in Africa and the Middle East, to access quality medicines and treatment. I particularly emphasise the Foundation’s remarkable involvement in the fight against sickle cell disease in Africa. The Foundation has established itself as a leader in global healthcare, as demonstrated by this day that brought together leading figures from all around the world. The Foundation has become one of our major partners in our fight for global health and this fight is at the heart of international development and solidarity and is a diplomatic priority for us.”
During the dinner that closed this day, numerous testimonies from the Foundation’s partners and beneficiaries shed light on the priority health issues and needs to which the Foundation devotes its resources.
Earlier in the day, the Foundation had chosen three themes which are central to its work and invited experts and partners to share their visions and experiences via three round tables :
#1 : “How can neglected populations and diseases be incorporated into the global health agenda?”
Prof Marc Gentilini, Emeritus Professor of Infectious and Tropical Diseases (Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris), Honorary President of the Academy of Medicine and of the French Red Cross.
Prof Dapa Diallo, Director of the Centre for Sickle Cell Disease Research and Control (CRLD) in Bamako, Mali
Mrs Lalla Aicha Diakité, President of the charity Solidarity for the Integration of Malian Albinos (SIAM)
Mrs Laragh Gollogly, Coordinator, OMS Press
#2 : “Cooperation in health: intervention strategies for efficient and sustainable actions”
Mr Jacques Godfrain, Treasurer of the Fondation Pierre Fabre, former French Minister of Cooperation
Mr Michel Hamala Sidibé, Malian Minister of Health and Social Affairs
Mr Hervé Berville, MP for the Côtes d’Armor, economist specialising in development issues
Mr Marwan Sehnaoui, President of the Order of Malta Lebanon
#3 : “Technological innovation and e-health: future solutions to extend access to care”
Prof Ousmane Faye, Director of the Malian Dermatology Hospital in Bamako
Dr Shelly Batra, President and co-founder of Operation Asha, an e-health solution for tackling tuberculosis in Asia
Prof Cheick Oumar Bagayoko, Associate Professor of Medical Informatics at the University of Bamako
Dr Mehdi Benchoufi, doctor and mathematician, co-founder of EchOpen, founder of the Jade Club
Radio France Internationale relocated the recording of “Priorité Santé” hosted by Caroline Paré to the Foundation’s headquarters for a program on the theme of “Financing health in the South: why and how?”. What is the impact of health assistance programmes on national health investments? How are the priorities for this external aid defined? How can we guarantee the effectiveness and relevance of these remote aids and promote good governance?
With:
- Pr Léon Tshilolo, paediatrician haematologist, Director of the Training and Research Centre of the Centre hospitalier Mère-Enfant MONKOLE in Kinshasa. President of the Network for the Study of Sickle Cell Disease in Central Africa (REDAC)
- M. Michel Sidibé, Malian Minister of Health and Social Affairs
- Mrs. Béatrice Garrette, Executive Director of the Fondation Pierre Fabre
- Dr. Laragh Gollogly, Editor-in-Chief of the Bulletin of the World Health Organization
