Maryland-Africa trade mission means new role for Johns Hopkins affiliate
07 July 2004
Baltimore, Md. – "For a nonprofit health organization like
Jhpiego to participate in a trade mission to South Africa and Ghana with the State of Maryland and
more than 40 private businesses meant a new chapter in the business of the delivery of public
health services to Africa," said Alain Damiba, Jhpiego’s vice president for Business Development
and Communications. The recent trade mission in which Jhpiego participated was designed to encourage
and facilitate commercial opportunities for Maryland companies and establish relationships for
economic development and growth.
Jhpiego played an unusual part in the mission, as the only health nonprofit.
"Jhpiego knows Africa," noted West African-born Damiba, who joined the mission sponsored by Maryland
Lt. Gov. Michael Steele. "I know Africa – besides my native Burkina Faso, I lived and worked
throughout the continent most of my life. But Africa to American businesses, especially the many
minority businesses who joined this trade mission, is an untapped treasure.
"Because I understand the people, the culture, the language, and the local African
business of health care, I was able to help facilitate better understanding of the environment
for business for my colleagues from the private sector."
"In order to compete in today’s global marketplace, Maryland must establish positive
and productive relations with the governments and business communities around the world," said
Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich. "The African trade mission will serve as bridge between Maryland
companies and this emerging region of the world and new economic development opportunities."
Lt. Governor Steele, Damiba and other delegation members met with high-level
Ghanaian and South African government officials, business and community leaders including
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama of Ghana, South African President
Thabo Mbeki’s Minister of Defense, Mosiuoa Lekota and Bafokeng King Leruo Molotlegi.
About Jhpiego
For 35 years, Jhpiego, (pronounced "ja-pie-go"), has empowered front-line health
workers by designing and implementing simple, low-cost, hands-on solutions that
strengthen the delivery of health care services, following the
household-to-hospital continuum of care. We partner with community- to
national-level organizations to build sustainable, local capacity through
advocacy, policy and guidelines development, and quality and performance
improvement approaches.
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