Weekly News Digest
産経オンライン英会話 ニュースディスカッション教材
PM Kishida reaffirmed his commitment to Japan's ongoing medical assistance to Ghana, which was made possible through the legacy of Dr Hideyo Noguchi.
ACCRA, Ghana — At the Japan-Ghana summit on May 1, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo confirmed their intentions for further cooperation in health and medical care.
One of the key agendas of the G7 Hiroshima Summit, which begins on May 19, will be medical support for emerging and developing nations, including those in Africa. Efforts to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC), which aims to provide sufficient medical care for all, will also be discussed.
Kishida hopes that providing aid to Ghana will push this discussion forward.
At the May 1 dinner banquet hosted by Akufo-Addo, Kishida remarked that Dr Hideyo Noguchi's legacy had strengthened cooperation between the two countries in the health sector.
He also stated his intention to continue assisting in the fight against malaria and other infectious diseases that are endemic to Ghana.
Medical Pioneer Hideyo Noguchi
Dr Hideyo Noguchi was a renowned bacteriologist who established a connection between Japan and Ghana through medical care. He moved to Ghana in 1927 to study yellow fever but died from the disease the following year.
Since then, Japan has continued to provide Ghana with medical assistance. The Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research in Accra, Ghana's capital, was built in his name with Japanese aid. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the institute provided medical care not only to Ghana but also to West African nations by providing PCR testing and other services. Kishida visited the Noguchi Institute before meeting Akufo-Addo.
Kishida considers the summit in Ghana to be pivotal in promoting UHC. At the Global Conference of Parliamentarians in Population and Development (GCPPD) held in April, he said that addressing global health and achieving UHC were among the most critical global concerns confronting the international community.
MA Global Leader in UHC
Japan's established universal health insurance system makes it a global leader in UHC. During his meeting with Akufo-Addo, Kishida confirmed that Japan would continue to provide medical assistance to Ghana, which hopes to achieve UHC.
However, China and Russia are also expanding their presence in Africa. During the pandemic, China attempted to boost its influence in Africa through "vaccine diplomacy." But Chinese-made vaccinations are deemed to have quality issues.
On the other hand, Japan has a track record of providing high-quality medical assistance through organizations such as the Noguchi Institute. Consistent efforts tailored to local needs will prove vital in strengthening ties with Africa and maintaining the international order.
岸田文雄首相とガーナのアクフォアド大統領との会談のテーマの一つとなったのが保健・医療分野での協力の確認だ。広島市で５月１９日から始まる先進７カ国首脳会議（Ｇ７広島サミット）ではアフリカなど新興国・途上国への医療支援や、誰もが適切な医療を受けることができる「ユニバーサル・ヘルス・カバレッジ（ＵＨＣ）」が重要課題の一つとなる。首相はガーナへの支援を通じ、議論の活性化を図りたい考えだ。
「野口英世博士のレガシー（遺産）をもとに、両国の保健分野での協力はますます強化されている」
首相は、１日のアクフォアド氏らガーナ政府高官との晩餐会でこう述べ、ガーナの風土病となっているマラリアなどの感染症対策で今後も貢献する考えを示した。 医療を通じた日本とガーナの接点をつくったのは細菌学者だった野口だ。野口は１９２７年に黄熱病の研究のため、ガーナにわたり、翌年に黄熱病に感染して亡くなった。
この縁がきっかけとなり、日本はガーナを対象に医療支援を続けてきた。首都のアクラには日本の支援で野口の名前にちなんだ「野口記念医学研究所」（野口研）があり、新型コロナウイルス禍では、ＰＣＲ検査の拠点などとしてガーナのみならず、西アフリカの医療を支えた。首相もアクフォアド氏との会談に先立ち、野口研を視察した。
首相は、サミットを契機にＵＨＣの推進を目指している。４月に開かれた地球規模の課題をテーマとした国際会議では「国際社会は複合的な地球規模課題に直面している。最も重要なものの一つがグローバルヘルスの取り組みであり、ＵＨＣの達成だ」と訴えた。
国民皆保険制度が定着する日本は、国際的にＵＨＣをリードする立場でもある。日本はこれまでもガーナをＵＨＣの推進国として医療支援を続けてきたが、アクフォアド氏との会談でも協力を改めて確認した。
中国やロシアもアフリカへの働きかけを強めている。新型コロナ禍では、中国がアフリカでの「ワクチン外交」を展開し、影響力の拡大を狙ったが、中国製ワクチンは品質面で課題があるとされた。一方、日本はこれまでも野口研などを通じ質の高い医療支援を行ってきた実績がある。国際秩序の維持に向けたアフリカとの連携強化に向けても、地域の実情に合わせた地道な取り組みを続けることが鍵になりそうだ。