Commonwealth Health Ministers meet every year. This year, the meeting took place virtually on 14 May 2020. The theme of the meeting was delivering a coordinated Commonwealth COVID-19 response. The meeting was timely as Governments the world over were caught out when COVID-19 struck. As the meeting took place, Global Fund Advocates Network – Africa members sent solidarity letters to their Ministers for health and to Her Excellency Amira El Fadil the Commissioner for Social Affairs at the Africa Union Commission

In the letters, Civil Society noted with concern the economic, social and health disruptions caused by COVID-19. They acknowledged and appreciated the efforts that the Governments, private sector, donors and individuals are putting in place to protect citizens from COVID-19 to save lives, mitigate its impact and sustain livelihoods.

They asked that the Ministers for Health ensure that: Governments continue to provide comprehensive healthcare services and remains focused on defeating other life threatening diseases as it battles COVID-19; Escalate engagement of community health systems so that communities are at the heart of the COVID-19 response especially in prevention, contact tracing and surveillance; Enhance multi-disciplinary partnerships for robust coordination at national, regional and global level.

Civil Society advocates from Kenya, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Eswatini joined in this activity.