Ministers of Health from seven small African island states signed an agreement to jointly procure drugs and vaccines in a bid to improve quality and access to medicines and other health products.
The ministers from Cabo Verde, Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Mauritius, Sao Tome & Principe and Seychelles that form the Small Island Developing States signed the Pooled Procurement agreement to take advantage of economies of scale and collective bargaining. High cost of drugs and medical supplies is one of the major challenges the small island states face due to their modest populations.
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Gebreyesus, and WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, joined the ministers in the virtual signing ceremony. Dr Tedros congratulated the ministers for this important step forward and pledged continued support from WHO to help the countries in implementing the agreement.

The United States continues to partner with the Ethiopian Ministry of Defense to strengthen the capacity of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF). This month, the U.S. Department of Defense provided $2.9 million worth of training and equipment to the ENDF in support of its efforts to disrupt the threats posed by al-Shabaab in Somalia and other terrorist organizations.
The equipment donated includes land cruisers, troop transports, ambulances, cargo and fuel trucks, water trailers, operations center computers, and night vision devices. This donation is just one way the U.S. government supports Ethiopian partner forces in their fight against terrorism.
The United States and Ethiopia have developed a long-standing partnership that includes military training exercises and a spectrum of activities to support peacekeeping and counterterrorism objectives.