Cannabis Science, Inc. (OTCQB: CBIS), a U.S. Company specializing in cannabis formulation-based drug development and related consulting, highlights additional attendees at the CFA African Healthcare Infrastructure Forum and Brainstorm held at the African Union, in Washington DC, on February 6, 2015.
As previously announced, Cannabis Science President & CEO, Raymond C. Dabney was appointed as the Vice Chair of the newly launched Constituency for Africa (CFA) Africa Healthcare Infrastructure Committee.
The committee held its inaugural meeting on February 5, 2015 at the African Union Mission to discuss its charge from CFA President, Mr. Melvin Foote, and to approve a conceptual framework program of work. Building on the successful model by CFA of using Town Hall formats and commissioning lectures to highlight priorities, The Committee discussed to hold the Africa Healthcare Infrastructure Forum & Brainstorm Session on February 6 at the African Union Mission in terms of the expected outcome and to establish the five standing sub-committees on EDUCATION, AGRICULTURE, FOOD SECURITY, TECHNOLOGY & COMMUNICATION, LEADERSHIP, POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT & POLICY, and HEALTHCARE INFRASTRUCTURE to develop and sustain programs in these areas.
Mr. Dabney joined Dr. Roscoe M. Moore Jr. (retired US Assistant Surgeon General) who is Interim Chair of CFA and also Chair of the Africa Healthcare Infrastructure Committee, along with 13 others consisting of individuals with extensive experience working in or with Africa in the public and private sectors at the African Union for the African healthcare brainstorm session.
Among them is Dr. Julius Garvey, an accomplished board certified surgeon specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease, the son of the legendary pan-Africanist Marcus Garvey Jr., Dr. Sam Mbulaiteye, who is a senior investigator at the National Cancer Institute, and Prof. Allen Herman, an independent public health consultant who was the founding Dean of the National School of Public Health, Medical School of Southern Africa in South Africa.
The Africa Healthcare Infrastructure Forum & Brainstorm Session was held on February 6, 2015 at the African Union Mission in a historic event graced by a Keynote speech by award-winning Actor and Social Entrepreneur, Jeffery C. Wright, who spoke passionately and intimately about the devastation of the Ebola epidemic on healthcare services in Africa and, recalling Albert Einstein's definition of insanity, doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results, he called for a new approach borrowing from the model used in the Marshall Plan, which worked in Europe after the second world war.
The meeting was addressed by Mr. Tarek Ben Youssef, Senior Political Officer in the African Union Mission as host who represented the AU permanent representative Amina Salum Ali, who was delayed returning from the African Union Summit in Addis Abeba.
The 5 panelists who followed Mr. Jeffrey Wright were Mr. Robert Mallet (President Accordia Global Health Foundation), Ms. Jessica Rookwood (President of International Health Advisors), Mr. Donald Shriber (Deputy Director for Policy and Communication, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), Dr. Pernessa Seele (Founder and CEO, The Balm in Gilead, Inc) and Mr. Gregory Simpkins (Senior Director, US House of Representatives, Sub-committee on Africa).
Five people responding to the panel were Ms. Julia Royall (Global Health Information Specialist), Dr. Gloria B. Herndon (CEO GB Herndon & Associates), Dr. Julius Garvey (Garvey vascular Specialists), Dr. Arikana Chihombori (Chair, African Diaspora Health Initiative, African Union) and Mr. Raymond C. Dabney (Chairman Board of Directors, Cannabis Science Inc., and the Cannabis Science Research Foundation).
The Africa Healthcare Infrastructure Forum & Brainstorm Session, coming on the heels of the 24th meeting of the African Union and the unprecedented international response to the Ebola epidemic, is poised to play a unique and catalytic role to radically transform the global health agenda of Africa from one that lurches from one crisis response to another crisis response to one that is built on health system strengthening, engagement of African communities and professionals, and long-term training and infrastructure investment.
Cannabis Science and the Cannabis Science Research Foundation, through its Chairman Raymond C. Dabney, is pleased to be associated with this historic session, and with the work of CFA, and to join the African Union and partner institutions to re-shape the debate and implementation healthcare reform and investment in Africa. Agreeing with keynote speaker, Jeffrey C. Wright, that the responsibility of healthcare lies with local governments in Africa, thus healthcare system strengthening.
Mr. Dabney believes and re-affirmed that Cannabis Science and the Cannabis Science Research Foundation would respond with urgency and seriousness of purpose, the Africa to support long-term efforts to rebuild Africa's healthcare infrastructure along the priorities established by the Africa Healthcare Infrastructure Committee. This work will include education and training to replace workers lost in epidemics such as the HIV/AIDS and the Ebola epidemics, revitalization of agriculture, and leadership training. The legacy of the Ebola epidemic in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia should not be a Cassandra Curse, but a vibrant partnership to do what is possible so Africans can manage and deliver health to their own peoples – in other words build the wealth of Africans by supporting the health of its peoples.
"A healthy and vibrant Africa is good for everybody. Imagine the potential of untapped resources of Africa making their fair share contribution to the global economy, including in agricultural production, drug manufacturing and distribution. It is a big market; it is a big supplier. I am personally honored to have been invited to serve on the CFA Africa Healthcare Infrastructure Committee," said Raymond C. Dabney. "We have begun the process of bringing influential private and public stakeholders together, as was clearly evident at the historic session at the AU mission, to identify and begin closing the gaps in Africa's infrastructure and health systems."
Mr. Dabney was impressed by all the attendees and presenters he spoke with, they were all clearly eager to turn the page, break the cycle of crisis management to long-term solutions. One good example of a long-term solution is the creation of the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, described by Mr. Tarek Ben Youssef, to train and equip African front line workers to detect, respond and stop epidemics in their tracks. Another is the establishment, supporting and sustaining African health centers of excellence, such as the Infectious Diseases Institute in Uganda, described by Mr. Mallet. "Clearly a lot is possible and there is no need to re-invent the wheel," said Mr. Dabney. "But it will take will, focus, determination, and a willingness to engage Africans, but it is possible."
Goals of the CFA African Healthcare Infrastructure Committee
Following a very positive response to the committee's initial activity of the Africa Healthcare Infrastructure Forum & Brainstorm Session at the AU Mission, committee plans a fact-finding trip to Africa to visit successful models, such as the Infectious Diseases Institute, the African Field Epidemiology Network - AFENET model (http://afenet.net/), and regional organizations such as the East African Community to discuss initiatives and partnerships with African government and business leaders.
The African Site Visit will be headed by the Mr. Dabney in his capacity as Vice-Chair of the African Healthcare Infrastructure Committee and Mr. Melvin Foote to explore opportunities to develop projects and deploy boots on the ground for projects discussed. The immediate projects will focus on identifying areas of immediate collaboration with the consortium of businesses already engaged to support education and training, food security through agriculture and sanitation, technology and telecommunication, leadership and policy training, and specific health infrastructure issues. The imperative of initial partnerships will be to create jobs and build skills to support the African Health care infrastructure initiatives. "This imitative makes sense for Cannabis Science, which clearly would like to understand more about the potential of growth the company in Africa," said Mr. Dabney.
Cannabis Science is seeking new regions to develop business for low-cost cannabis-based therapeutics, which could also meet the acute shortage of pain medications along with many other critical ailment treatments in Africa.
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