The Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Luigi Di Maio, participated today in Padua at the annual meeting of Medici per l’Africa CUAMM (Doctors for Africa). The 2021 edition, entitled “Ripartire” (Getting Started Again), discussed the resumption of activities following the most acute stage of the pandemic, and the relaunching of CUAMM’s work in Africa.
Speaking at the meeting, Minister Di Maio recognized the important work of Medici per l’Africa since its foundation, in many African countries and in Italy, in a work of assistance and training for the protection of the health of the African people, but also of education, awareness and promotion of social responsibility on the part of institutions and public opinion.
The head of the Farnesina once again confirmed the prioritary attention given to Africa by Italy, in the framework of its multilateral action during Italy’s Presidency of the G20 and along the lines of the strategic partnership cultivated by Italy with its African partners. In this connection, Minister Di Maio cited the Conference “Meeting with Africa”, held October 7-8 in Rome, with the participation of as many as 30 African Ministers. He also confirmed the commitment of Italian Cooperation on the African continent, that will be expressed through important actions for sustainable development and in response to the great humanitarian crises there. He also pointed out that the draft budget law 2022-2024 provides for an increase of the allocations by Cooperation toward the goal of gradually aligning public aid at the DAC target of 0.7%.
Minister Di Maio concluded by emphasizing the importance of intensifying vaccination efforts in Africa, in order to contribute to achieving the goal set at the G20 summit in Rome of immunizing 40% of the world’s population by the end of 2021 and 70% by mid-2022.
