An agreement increases the prestige of the International Organization of la Francophonie

The International Organization of la Francophonie has made a major international breakthrough by signing an agreement with the World Health Organization.

The Memorandum of Understanding aimed at intensifying cooperation between the International Organization of la Francophonie (OIF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) signed in Geneva on April 14th, is essentially a win-win agreement for both parties. The World Health Organization will seek to obtain the great experience accumulated by the International Organization of la Francophonie in the field of communication in the French-speaking environment, and the latter will obtain better medical coverage for its member states. This agreement provides, among other things, for the intensification of cooperation between these two organizations in promoting equality in vaccines, combating malaria and the health of the population in general.

However, the signatories do not derive the same status from this agreement. It is the WHO that needs the expertise of its new partner to fulfill its primary mission. Thus, the International Organization of la Francophonie believes that its position as an important player on the international scene has consolidated and confirms its influence in Africa, the new heart of the French-speaking world. Globally, this also recognizes the importance of using the French language in healthcare.

Help Africa

This agreement is especially important to the African continent, which often loses out when it comes to its relations with the United Nations. In this regard, the President of Senegal, Macky Sall, emphasized in November 2020 that the rules governing the United Nations were not in the interest of Africa, which was under colonial control when this body was created in 1945. He cited an example of the fact that none of the countries The 54 African states are permanent members of the Security Council although most of their agenda concerns the problems of this continent. It is evident during the Covid-19 pandemic that Africa suffers in particular from a lack of international health services. Although a quarter of the world’s population is located there, as of January 31, only 20,000 Africans were among the 70 million people who were vaccinated. In addition, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Dr. John Nkengasung, said on April 15 that Africa is “at a dead end” for the supply of Covid vaccines. 19-As the epidemic affects more and more people. The inequality of access to vaccines against Covid-19 between rich and poor countries is widening and becoming ugly, as he emphasized on this topic, on March 22, the Director-General of the World Health Organization urging rich countries to give up patent rights against Covid-19. .

The situation is equally urgent with regard to other health problems, such as malaria, that are affecting this continent. A study for the first time on April 14 provided clinical evidence that mutations in the parasite responsible for the disease made it more resistant to treatment in Africa. This resistance has already been recognized in Southeast Asia. This agreement could benefit the fight against other diseases in Africa, such as tuberculosis, which kills around 500,000 people annually.

OIF is more useful at the global level

Covid-19 is currently causing the largest planetary crisis since World War II. By joining forces with the World Health Organization to fight it, the International Organization of la Francophonie (OIF) sees its role as an international player strengthened. In addition to improving disease control in Africa, this agreement should also allow cooperation to establish the WHO Academy in Lyon, France, to train health workers worldwide. This agreement can also help the World Health Organization overcome its limitations stemming from increasing nationalism and polarizing societies. These restrictions are currently affecting the effectiveness of its measures and the economic health of the planet. So the International Organization of la Francophonie now plays a role in supporting global growth and can also help French-speaking countries by enabling them to free themselves more quickly from the pandemic and diseases affecting their populations and economies.

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