9 October 2023<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Excellency, Mr. Azali Assoumani, President of the Union of the Comoros, current President of the African Union, dear brother and friend,
Mr. President of the National Assembly,
Mr. Prime Minister,
Madam President of the High Council of Local Authorities,
Mr. President of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council,
Ministers,
Members of the diplomatic corps,
Dear Bill Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation,
Dear members of the scientific community and private sector,
Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before anything else, I would like to first express my deep gratitude to you, dear brother Azali, for honoring this gathering with your presence, despite your very busy schedule.
Beyond this specific event, your presence, which we greatly appreciate, once again reflects your strong attachment to the long-standing fraternal friendship between our two countries, despite the distance that separates them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thank you to all our guests for coming. I wish you a warm welcome and an enjoyable stay during this annual meeting of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, better known as the Grand Challenges Annual Meeting<\/strong>, which has been held since 2005. Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to remind you that 49 African countries, including Senegal, benefit from the programs of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in crucial areas such as health, nutrition, water, sanitation, hygiene, agriculture, and financial services for those in need. This annual meeting is in line with the same spirit of solidarity and human fraternity. We greatly need this, which makes this year\u2019s theme particularly relevant: Science Saves Lives<\/strong>. The race for vaccines and masks triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic clearly illustrates this point. This is precisely what is happening within the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI)<\/strong>, and more recently with the COVAX initiative<\/strong> in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. But today, Africa must mobilize further to establish a genuine biotechnology industry<\/strong>, including the manufacturing of vaccines. In fact, the IPD<\/strong> and the Institute for Health Research, Epidemiological Surveillance, and Training (IRESSEF)<\/strong> are two of our reference laboratories that regularly contribute to scientific progress in health. In the same spirit, I am pleased to note that two winners of the 2023 President\u2019s Award for Digital Innovation<\/strong> have successfully launched two artificial intelligence platforms: Caytu Robotics<\/strong> and Telewer<\/strong>. The bajenu gox<\/strong> are community actors trained by health service officials to serve as advisors during pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal follow-up. In this Pink October<\/strong> month, marking the breast cancer awareness campaign, our theme should also remind us that science continues to face the major challenge of the cancer scourge, which continues to wreak havoc worldwide: an average of 19 million new cases per year, resulting in 10 million deaths, including more than 700,000 in Africa, according to estimates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response to this alarming situation, the International Atomic Energy Agency<\/strong> has launched the Rays of Hope<\/strong>initiative to support the capacities of member countries, especially African ones, in the fight against cancer, particularly in the areas of medical imaging, nuclear medicine, and radiotherapy. I encourage the scientific community in its efforts to improve cancer diagnosis and treatment and to develop effective and accessible vaccines for all. On this note of hope and confidence, I declare open the Grand Challenges Annual Meeting 2023<\/strong>. 9 octobre 2023<\/p>\n\n\n\n Excellence, Monsieur Azali Assoumani, Pr\u00e9sident de l\u2019Union des Comores, Pr\u00e9sident en exercice de l\u2019Union africaine, cher fr\u00e8re et ami, <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Monsieur le Pr\u00e9sident de l\u2019Assembl\u00e9e nationale, <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Monsieur le Premier Ministre,<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Madame la Pr\u00e9sidente du haut Conseil des Collectivit\u00e9s territoriales, <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Monsieur le Pr\u00e9sident du Conseil<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Economique Social et Environnemental,<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Mesdames, Messieurs les ministres,<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Mesdames, Messieurs les membres du corps diplomatique,<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cher Bill Gates, Co Pr\u00e9sident de la Fondation Bill et Melinda Gates, <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Chers acteurs de la communaut\u00e9 scientifique, et membres du secteur priv\u00e9, <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Mesdames, Messieurs,<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Avant tout propos, j\u2019aimerais d\u2019abord te remercier particuli\u00e8rement, cher fr\u00e8re Azali, pour avoir honor\u00e9 et rehauss\u00e9 cette rencontre de ta pr\u00e9sence, en d\u00e9pit d\u2019un agenda que je sais tr\u00e8s charg\u00e9. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Au-del\u00e0 de cet \u00e9v\u00e8nement ponctuel, ta pr\u00e9sence, que nous appr\u00e9cions au plus haut point, traduit, une fois de plus, ton attachement \u00e0 la longue tradition d\u2019amiti\u00e9 fraternelle entre nos deux pays malgr\u00e9 la distance qui les s\u00e9pare. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Merci \u00e0 tous nos h\u00f4tes d\u2019\u00eatre venus. Je vous souhaite la bienvenue et un agr\u00e9able s\u00e9jour parmi nous \u00e0 l\u2019occasion de ce rendez-vous annuel de la Fondation Bill et Melinda Gates, plus connu sous le label de Grand Challenges annual meeting,<\/em> qui se tient depuis 2005. <\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Special thanks to you, dear Bill, for the trust you have placed in our country to host the major annual event of your Foundation.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n La tenue \u00e0 Dakar de cet \u00e9v\u00e8nement confirme le partenariat solide entre notre pays et votre Fondation dont le S\u00e9n\u00e9gal abrite le Bureau r\u00e9gional pour l\u2019Afrique de l\u2019Ouest et du Centre. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Je f\u00e9licite notre compatriote Cheikh Oumar Seydi<\/strong>, Directeur Afrique, ainsi que toutes les \u00e9quipes de la Fondation, et l\u2019ensemble des Services de l\u2019Etat qui ont pr\u00e9par\u00e9 ensemble pendant plus d\u2019un an l\u2019organisation de cette rencontre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mesdames, Messieurs, <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Dans un monde ext\u00e9nu\u00e9 par les conflits, la violence, les jeux d\u2019int\u00e9r\u00eat et le chacun pour soi, la Fondation Bill et Melinda Gates offre un mod\u00e8le achev\u00e9 d\u2019empathie et d\u2019humanit\u00e9. <\/p>\n\n\n\n En effet, il faut avoir un grand c\u0153ur et un sens \u00e9lev\u00e9 de l\u2019altruisme pour consacrer son temps, ses efforts et ses ressources \u00e0 la sant\u00e9 et au bien-\u00eatre de millions d\u2019hommes et de femmes de tous \u00e2ges \u00e0 travers le monde, sans aucune distinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Je rappelle que 49 pays africains dont le S\u00e9n\u00e9gal b\u00e9n\u00e9ficient des programmes de la Fondation Bill et Melinda Gates, dans des domaines aussi vitaux que la sant\u00e9, la nutrition, l’eau, l’assainissement, l’hygi\u00e8ne, l’agriculture et les services financiers pour les n\u00e9cessiteux. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Pour tout ce travail remarquable, au service de l\u2019humanit\u00e9, la Fondation Bill et Melinda Gates m\u00e9rite notre standing ovation. Merci. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cette rencontre annuelle s\u2019inscrit dans le m\u00eame esprit de solidarit\u00e9 et de fraternit\u00e9 humaine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Elle constitue pour la communaut\u00e9 scientifique, les bailleurs de fonds et les d\u00e9cideurs politiques, une plateforme d\u2019\u00e9changes et de dialogue, pour stimuler la recherche, l\u2019innovation et le financement, afin d\u2019aider \u00e0 relever les grands d\u00e9fis mondiaux en mati\u00e8re de sant\u00e9 et de d\u00e9veloppement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Nous en avons grandement besoin ; d\u2019o\u00f9 la pertinence du th\u00e8me de cette ann\u00e9e : La science sauve des vies<\/em><\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n En effet, la science sauve des vies en contribuant \u00e0 am\u00e9liorer notre compr\u00e9hension des maladies par la pr\u00e9vention, le diagnostic et le traitement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Mais le progr\u00e8s scientifique a un co\u00fbt. Pour \u00eatre efficace et r\u00e9pondre aux besoins du plus grand nombre, la recherche scientifique doit \u00eatre soutenue et financ\u00e9e de fa\u00e7on ad\u00e9quate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n La course aux vaccins et aux masques, engag\u00e9e apr\u00e8s l\u2019apparition de la pand\u00e9mie de COVID-19 est suffisamment r\u00e9v\u00e9latrice \u00e0 ce sujet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Elle a montr\u00e9 au grand jour l\u2019\u00e9tat d\u2019impr\u00e9paration global face aux p\u00e9rils sanitaires plan\u00e9taires de plus en plus fr\u00e9quents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n En m\u00eame temps, dans un monde globalis\u00e9, un monde d\u2019\u00e9changes et d\u2019interactions intenses, la pand\u00e9mie nous a appris que face \u00e0 ces p\u00e9rils qui ignorent les fronti\u00e8res, aucun pays ne peut \u00eatre en s\u00e9curit\u00e9 sanitaire tant que d\u2019autres restent vuln\u00e9rables. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Le besoin de collaboration n\u2019en est que plus \u00e9vident pour les scientifiques et les d\u00e9cideurs politiques.<\/p>\n\n\n\n C\u2019est ce qui se fait au sein de l\u2019Alliance mondiale pour le Vaccin et l\u2019Immunisation (GAVI) ; et plus r\u00e9cemment avec l\u2019initiative COVAX, en r\u00e9ponse \u00e0 la pand\u00e9mie de COVID-19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Il faut f\u00e9liciter la Fondation Bill et Melinda Gates pour son soutien actif \u00e0 ces deux m\u00e9canismes de solidarit\u00e9 internationale. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Mais aujourd\u2019hui, l\u2019Afrique doit se mobiliser davantage pour assoir une v\u00e9ritable industrie biotechnologique, y compris la fabrication de vaccins. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Nous devons aussi continuer le plaidoyer pour que les vaccins produits sur le continent acc\u00e8dent aux plateformes de commercialisation ; d\u2019autant plus qu\u2019il y a des exp\u00e9riences en la mati\u00e8re, dont celle de l\u2019Institut Pasteur de Dakar (IPD) qui fabrique depuis plus de 90 ans le vaccin contre la fi\u00e8vre jaune.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Au demeurant, l\u2019IPD et l’Institut de Recherche en Sant\u00e9, de Surveillance \u00c9pid\u00e9miologique et de Formations (<\/strong>IRESSEF) <\/strong>constituent <\/strong>deux de nos laboratoires de r\u00e9f\u00e9rence contribuant r\u00e9guli\u00e8rement au progr\u00e8s de la science en mati\u00e8re de sant\u00e9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Je voudrais saluer ici l\u2019initiative Grand Challenges S\u00e9n\u00e9gal <\/em><\/strong>lanc\u00e9e en octobre 2022, et coordonn\u00e9e par l\u2019IPD, pour soutenir des projets de renforcement de la surveillance \u00e9pid\u00e9mique et la promotion de l\u2019intelligence artificielle appliqu\u00e9e \u00e0 la sant\u00e9. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Dans le m\u00eame esprit, je suis heureux de constater que deux laur\u00e9ats du Prix du Pr\u00e9sident de la R\u00e9publique pour l\u2019innovation num\u00e9rique \u00e9dition 2023 ont lanc\u00e9 avec succ\u00e8s, deux plateformes d\u2019intelligence artificielle : Caytu Robotics<\/em><\/strong> et Telewer<\/em><\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n En mati\u00e8re d\u2019innovation, j\u2019aimerais \u00e9galement citer le Programme<\/strong> Bajenu Gox<\/em><\/strong>, lanc\u00e9 il y a plus d\u2019une d\u00e9cennie, qui met en avant le leadership f\u00e9minin pour soutenir les politiques publiques d\u00e9di\u00e9es \u00e0 la sant\u00e9 maternelle, n\u00e9onatale et infanto-juv\u00e9nile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Les bajenu gox<\/em><\/strong> sont des actrices communautaires pr\u00e9par\u00e9es par les responsables des services de sant\u00e9 pour servir de conseill\u00e8res pendant les p\u00e9riodes de grossesse, d\u2019accouchement et de suivi post natal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elles aident \u00e0 assurer la veille pour l\u2019espacement des naissances, les rendez-vous pour la vaccination du b\u00e9b\u00e9, son suivi nutritionnel et la protection contre les mutilations g\u00e9nitales f\u00e9minines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Je remercie vivement la Fondation Susan Thompson Buffet<\/strong> pour son soutien pr\u00e9cieux qui aide \u00e0 p\u00e9renniser le Programme<\/strong> Bajenu Gox<\/em><\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n En ce mois d\u2019octobre rose, marquant la campagne de sensibilisation au d\u00e9pistage du cancer du sein, notre th\u00e8me doit aussi nous rappeler que la science reste toujours confront\u00e9e au d\u00e9fi majeur du fl\u00e9au du cancer qui continue de faire des ravages \u00e0 travers le monde : 19 millions<\/strong> de nouveaux cas en moyenne par an pour 10 millions<\/strong> de d\u00e9c\u00e8s, dont plus de 700 000<\/strong> en Afrique, selon les estimations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n En r\u00e9ponse \u00e0 cette situation pr\u00e9occupante, l\u2019Agence internationale de l\u2019Energie atomique a lanc\u00e9 l\u2019initiative Rays of hope<\/em><\/strong>, <\/em>Rayons de l\u2019espoir<\/em><\/strong>, afin de soutenir les capacit\u00e9s des pays membres, africains en particulier, dans la lutte contre le cancer, notamment en \u00e9quipements d’imagerie m\u00e9dicale, de m\u00e9decine nucl\u00e9aire et de radioth\u00e9rapie. <\/p>\n\n\n\n En tant que parrain de cette campagne, j\u2019engage les pays et Institutions partenaires et toutes les bonnes volont\u00e9s \u00e0 appuyer l\u2019initiative Rays of Hope <\/em>qui <\/em>veut <\/em>contribuer \u00e0 la r\u00e9alisation des ODD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n J\u2019encourage la communaut\u00e9 scientifique dans ses efforts pour l\u2019am\u00e9lioration du diagnostic et du traitement du cancer, et la mise au point de vaccins efficaces et accessibles \u00e0 tous. <\/p>\n\n\n\n J\u2019esp\u00e8re que nous pourrons relever le d\u00e9fi d\u2019ici aux prochaines assises annuelles de la Fondation Bill et Melinda Gates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sur cette note d\u2019espoir et de confiance, je d\u00e9clare ouverts les travaux de Grand Challenges annual meeting<\/em> 2023. Je vous remercie. <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 9 October 2023 Excellency, Mr. Azali Assoumani, President of the Union of the Comoros, current President of the African Union, dear brother and friend,Mr. President of the National\u2026<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3000,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[56,8,46],"tags":[],"msf_theme":[68],"msf_place":[],"class_list":["post-2986","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured-publications","category-publications","category-speeches","msf_theme-people"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.mackysallfoundation.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2986","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.mackysallfoundation.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.mackysallfoundation.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.mackysallfoundation.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.mackysallfoundation.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2986"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dev.mackysallfoundation.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2986\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2999,"href":"https:\/\/dev.mackysallfoundation.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2986\/revisions\/2999"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.mackysallfoundation.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3000"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.mackysallfoundation.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2986"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.mackysallfoundation.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2986"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.mackysallfoundation.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2986"},{"taxonomy":"msf_theme","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.mackysallfoundation.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/msf_theme?post=2986"},{"taxonomy":"msf_place","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.mackysallfoundation.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/msf_place?post=2986"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Special thanks to you, dear Bill, for the trust you have placed in our country to host this major annual event of your Foundation.
Holding this event in Dakar confirms the solid partnership between our country and your Foundation, whose West and Central Africa Regional Office is based in Senegal.
I congratulate our compatriot Cheikh Oumar Seydi, Africa Director, as well as all the Foundation teams and all the State Services who have worked together for more than a year to organize this meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a world exhausted by conflicts, violence, self-interest, and individualism, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation offers a remarkable model of empathy and humanity.
Indeed, it takes a big heart and a high sense of altruism to dedicate one’s time, efforts, and resources to the health and well-being of millions of people of all ages across the world, without distinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For all this remarkable work in the service of humanity, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation deserves our standing ovation. Thank you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It provides a platform for the scientific community, donors, and policymakers to exchange ideas and dialogue, aiming to stimulate research, innovation, and funding to help address major global challenges in health and development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Indeed, science saves lives by contributing to a better understanding of diseases through prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
But scientific progress comes at a cost. To be effective and meet the needs of the greatest number, scientific research must be adequately supported and funded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It revealed the global unpreparedness in the face of increasingly frequent global health threats.
At the same time, in a globalized world of intense exchanges and interactions, the pandemic taught us that in the face of these borderless threats, no country can be truly safe unless others are also protected.
This makes the need for collaboration between scientists and policymakers even more evident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation deserves praise for its active support of these two international solidarity mechanisms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We must also continue advocating for vaccines produced on the continent to have access to global marketing platforms. There are already examples in this regard, such as the Institut Pasteur de Dakar (IPD)<\/strong>, which has been producing the yellow fever vaccine for over 90 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I would like to commend the Grand Challenges Senegal<\/strong> initiative launched in October 2022 and coordinated by the IPD, aimed at supporting projects that strengthen epidemic surveillance and promote artificial intelligence applied to health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the topic of innovation, I would also like to mention the Bajenu Gox<\/strong> Program, launched more than a decade ago, which highlights women’s leadership in supporting public policies dedicated to maternal, neonatal, and child health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They help ensure birth spacing, schedule vaccination appointments for the baby, monitor the child\u2019s nutrition, and protect against female genital mutilation.
I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Susan Thompson Buffet Foundation<\/strong> for its valuable support, which helps sustain the Bajenu Gox<\/strong> Program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the patron of this campaign, I call on partner countries and institutions, as well as all those of good will, to support the Rays of Hope<\/strong> initiative, which aims to contribute to the achievement of the SDGs<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I hope we will be able to rise to the challenge by the next annual meeting of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thank you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nC\u00e9r\u00e9monie d\u2019ouverture des Grand Challenges annual meeting <\/em>de la Fondation Bill et Melinda Gates<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n