AU Commission and Kuwait sign MoU to enhance and equip AU Medical Centre and to support the African CDCs

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and the Kuwaiti Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union, H.E. Rashed Al Hajri, on Thursday, 24 March 2016, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance and equip the Medical Centre at the AU Commission's Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The agreement will see the Government of Kuwait contributing a total of USD 5 million for the project, with the funds divided into two components: enhancing the Medical Services Department and supporting the African Centres for Disease Control (ACDCs).

The MoU is aimed at boosting the capacity of the AUC to provide quality medical services to its employees and members of the Diplomatic Corps based in Addis Ababa. It will also contribute towards the operationalization of the African CDCs, which have the mandate to monitor infectious diseases such as Ebola, as well as build Member States' capabilities on early warning, prevention and tackling said diseases.

According to the agreement, the larger objective of the initiative is to “improve the overall health outcome of Medical Service Department clients through convenient provision of high quality, responsive, universal and equitable healthcare; and building capacity of the African Union on monitoring, prevention and combatting infectious diseases”.

An inaugural event will be held on October 2016, when procurement and installation of the new equipment is completed. The project's completion is planned by 30 October, 2018.

The signed agreement fulfills a financial assistance pledge announced by His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, when he addressed the 19th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of AU Heads of State and Government on 15 July 2012 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.