The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria and stakeholders have called on the European Union (EU) to support health equity amid global discussions on pandemic preparedness.
Their appeal comes during ongoing negotiations for the World Health Organization (WHO) Pandemic Agreement and the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) Annex, highlighting the need for fair and inclusive global health frameworks.
The appeal was made at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, organised by AHF Nigeria in collaboration with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), highlighting the urgent need for fair and effective global health frameworks.
Dr Echey Ijezie, Country Programme Director of AHF, urged EU leaders to stop blocking equity provisions and facilitate the conclusion of a robust agreement that protected all nations from pandemic inequities.
He warned that a weak PABS Annex could lead to a repeat of “vaccine apartheid” seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, putting countries worldwide at risk and undermining trust in global health systems.
“The EU must stop blocking equity and get the agreement done. A weak Annex risks repeating the vaccine apartheid of COVID-19 while putting all countries at risk,” he emphasised.
Ijezie stressed that the EU should align its position with the values of solidarity and fairness it publicly promoted, supporting mandatory benefit-sharing, legal certainty, and accountability within the agreement.
He added that a strong PABS Annex was essential, not symbolic, noting that enforceable equity provisions were critical to saving lives and ensuring fair access to pandemic countermeasured globally.
Ijezie highlighted key concerns, emphasising that the Annex should not be approved without binding equity commitments, warning that voluntary or weak arrangements could perpetuate the inequities experienced during COVID-19.
He noted that developing countries were demanding enforceable rules rather than voluntary agreements, arguing that clear obligations were necessary to build trust, guarantee fairness, and protect global health sovereignty.
The AHF official also highlighted that the EU’s stance remained pivotal, with its position capable of either unlocking progress in negotiations or weakening the final outcome of the PABS Annex.
Without equitable benefit-sharing, efforts to strengthen regional production of vaccines and achieve health sovereignty could be undermined, he cautioned, stressing that fair global frameworks were necessary for sustainable preparedness.
Ijezie explained that advocacy focused on key EU powers, given the bloc’s central role in negotiations, noting that a shift in its position could break the current deadlock and promote fairness.
Mr Romy Mum, President of Lawyers Alert, stressed that pandemics and lives should not be commercialised, urging equity and justice before ratification of the global pandemic agreement and related annexes.
He criticised proposals granting exclusive licensing to the Global North, arguing that pathogens sourced worldwide must translate into equal benefits for the Global South in drugs, diagnostics, and treatments.
Martin Egbanubi, National Secretary of the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU), emphasised that all citizens had a right to healthcare, urging the Nigerian government to invest in local vaccine production to handle future health emergencies.
Egbanubi also called for African countries to commit to research and development, highlighting the need for self-reliance rather than dependence on other nations during pandemics.
Gloria Asuqwo, Board Member of the International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS in West Africa, stressed that CSOs must be included in negotiations and had access to all relevant documents before any Annex was signed.
“Equity, justice, and fairness are required.
“For the PBAS Annex to be signed, everyone must be carried along and represented at the table,” she said.
Mrs Chizoba Ogbeche, Vice President of Zone D, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), reaffirmed commitment to advocating for equity, inclusivity, and justice across all sectors, including health policy.
Other participants included representatives of the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPHWAN) and the Association of Women Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (ASHWAN), highlighting strong civil society engagement.
Also present were members of the Association of Positive Youths Living with HIV/AIDS and the Nigeria Network of Religious Leaders Living with or Affected by HIV/AIDS (NINERELA+), reinforcing the inclusive representation of diverse stakeholders.
