“The objective is clear,” said Omar Abdi, Deputy Executive Director of Programmes, UNICEF. “We have a target to train, to deploy and support health workers in Africa,” he said adding UNICEF and Africa CDC had the commitment to bring an additional half a million healthcare workers to 2 million already agreed by the African Union Heads of State.
Abdi said meeting the target had a bearing on how the continent would perform during public health emergencies and how it would positively impact reducing morbidity and mortality among children.
“The task at hand is crucial but timely since we are still facing unprecedented challenges in our healthcare systems,” said Dr Mohammed Abdulaziz, head of the Disease Control Division at CDC Africa.
“The need for community health workers integration into the broader health system in Member States has never been more urgent than this time when a lot more of our professional health workforce are migrating to the developed countries for greener pastures,” he added.
There is a need to share best practices, pool resources, and coordinate activities at Member States and continental levels, to maximize the impact and achieve greater efficiency in improving healthcare services across the continent through the operationalization of the continental coordination mechanism (CCM) for community health, Dr Abdulaziz said.
“To effect change, we must prioritize investment in community health workers, ensuring they are adequately compensated, skilled, and supported, with special attention to women health workers at the frontline of the response for children and their families,” said Dr Laila Gad, UNICEF representative to the AU and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
Dr Gad said this investment will not only accelerate health targets for all African children but also better prepare health systems for future pandemics and public health emergencies, she added noting, partnership is paramount in this endeavour.
In February this year, Africa CDC and UNICEF announced an extended partnership framework aimed at bolstering primary healthcare, supply chain management, pooled procurement, local manufacturing, and public health emergency responses.
Dr Abdulaziz said this collaboration builds on the existing 2022-2024 Partnership Framework Agreement between Africa CDC and UNICEF, aligned with the goals of the African Union Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want.
At the core of this initiative is high-level advocacy for political prioritization and integration of Community Health Workers (CHWs) into human resource for health with the plan to deploy 50,000 CHWs over the next two years, progressing towards 500,000 by 2027. This in line with the African Union Heads of State initiative to deploy 2 million CHWs in Africa.

To achieve this, the partnership builds on the 2017 African Union Decision on CHWs and the Monrovia Call to Action by reinforcing commitments to invest in, scale, and strengthen community health workers programs.

About Africa CDC: The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is a continental autonomous public health agency of the African Union that supports member states in their efforts to strengthen health systems and improve surveillance, emergency response, and prevention and control of diseases. Learn more at: http://www.africacdc.org

About UNICEF: UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone. Learn more at www.unicef.org

Media inquiries:
Margaret Edwin, Director of Communication & Public Information Division: Africa CDC | Tel: +251 986 632 878 | Email: EdwinM@africacdc.org
Ricardo Pires| UNICEF New York | Tel: +1 917 631 1226 | Email: rpires@unicef.org

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The kick-off meeting, convened at the Africa CDC Office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, signified a pivotal moment in the collaboration between the African CDC and the European Commission Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) to strengthen outbreak detection and disease surveillance throughout Africa.

Through these projects implemented by the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA), Africa CDC, and HERA, in partnership with African Union (AU) Member States, the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) and the Africa Public Health Foundation (APHF), will strengthen national and regional capacities to promptly detect outbreaks, support the integration of AMR genomic surveillance, and facilitate swift and high-quality data sharing for public health decision-making.

His Excellency Dr Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa CDC, emphasized the significance of this partnership stating, “The increasing number of outbreaks is driven by complex ecological, climatic, political, economic, and social factors, all of which are becoming more exacerbated on our continent. These projects are poised to strengthen laboratory detection and surveillance of emerging, re-emerging, and endemic diseases, as well as antimicrobial-resistant pathogens in Africa. They also highlight the strategic partnership between Africa CDC and the European Commission.”

Laurent Muschel, Acting Director General of HERA, emphasized, “In the face of ongoing global health challenges, Africa CDC and HERA are taking together concrete actions to strengthen detection of outbreaks, AMR genomic surveillance, and timely data sharing across Africa. Fortifying multi-pathogen molecular detection and sequencing capabilities in the African Union is essential for global health security.”

Africa CDC’s shift towards Africa PGI 2.0 signifies a transition from emergency response to building an optimized, resilient, and integrated molecular diagnostic and genomic surveillance ecosystem. It is critical and timely to incorporate lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, and empower national and regional reference laboratories to expand their capabilities to detect and characterize epidemic and pandemic-prone diseases. As demonstrated in previous outbreaks, molecular detection and genomic sequencing improves early detection and response to public health emergencies. Mr. Nqobile Ndlovu, CEO of ASLM, remarked, “The launch of the two projects is pivotal in devising scalable and sustainable approaches for integrating molecular diagnostics and sequencing within Africa’s routine surveillance structures. We are eager to collaborate with the Africa CDC and HERA to strengthen laboratory systems ensuring effective responses to current and future health threats”.

“APHF will continue to strengthen collaboration with the Africa CDC and HERA to support the flagship Pathogen Genomics Initiative (Africa PGI) and advance public health laboratory systems for pandemic preparedness and response.” Said Dr. Ebere Okereke, CEO of APHF

The Africa CDC is working with ASLM, APHF, Member States, the Africa Laboratory Technical Working Group, and other partners to ensure the effective and successful implementation of the two projects.

# #

For more information:

Dr. Sofonias Tessema, Program Lead, Africa PGI |Africa CDC| sofoniast@africacdc.org

Media inquiries:

Ms. Margaret Muigai Edwin, Director, Communication & Public Information Directorate: Africa CDC |

Tel: +255 742 635 592 | Email: edwinm@africacdc.org

About Africa CDC

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is the continental autonomous Health agency of the African Union that strengthens the capacity and capability of Africa’s public health institutions as well as partnerships to detect and respond quickly and effectively to disease threats and outbreaks, based on data-driven interventions and programmes. Learn more at: http://www.africacdc.org 

About Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority

The Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) is a directorate-general of the European Commission with a mission to prevent, detect, and rapidly respond to health emergencies. HERA aims to assess potential health threats, promote research and development, manufacturing, procurement, and equitable distribution of key medical countermeasures to strengthen the EU’s health emergency preparedness and response. Learn more at https://commission.europa.eu

About Africa Public Health Foundation 

The Africa Public Health Foundation exists to forge partnerships and mobilize resources to support critical public health initiatives across the continent, in support of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). Learn more at https://aphf.africa/

About African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) The African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) is a pan-African professional body working to advocate for the critical role and needs of laboratory medicine and networks throughout Africa. ASLM aims to strengthen healthcare systems through collaborative efforts with governments, local and international organizations, implementing partners, and the private sector. Learn more at www.aslm.org

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« Le monde fait face de plus en plus aux urgences sanitaires de portée internationale avec d’importants impacts sur l’économie mondiale et les mouvements de personnes. La COVID-19 demeure un bel exemple et nous a montré qu’aucun pays n’est à l’abri des urgences sanitaires ; ce qui nécessite de développer des outils appropriés en permanence pour y faire face. Le CDC Afrique, institution technique et spécialisée de l’Union africaine, dans son mandat, est bien placée pour développer des actions appropriées visant à résoudre le problème de fluidité de partage d’informations entre les États et de coordination régionale efficace », a indiqué le ministre de la Santé et de la Population de la République centrafricaine, Dr Pierre Somse.

La mise en place du Centre régional de connaissances s’inscrit en droite ligne avec les engagements récemment pris par les États membres de la région Afrique centrale. En effet, en octobre 2023 à l’occasion de la réunion ministérielle de haut niveau sur la sécurité sanitaire qui s’est tenue en Guinée équatoriale, et plus récemment, le 13 avril 2024, lors du segment ministériel de la réunion d’urgence sur le Mpox en Afrique, les États membres s’engageaient à entreprendre des actions visant à renforcer la collaboration et la coordination entre tous les États membres de l’Union africaine ainsi que le partage en temps réel des informations afin de prévenir et répondre efficacement aux multiples urgences de santé publique.

Promouvoir et faciliter l’accès à l’information et à la connaissance ; transformer l’information accessible en connaissances utilisables ; documenter et partager les connaissances informelles pour éclairer les décisions et l’action ; et faciliter de manière proactive l’utilisation de l’information et de la connaissance pour obtenir un impact sur la santé publique sont les principaux objectifs visés par la création du centre régional de connaissances de l’Afrique centrale.

Au cours de l’atelier d’orientation sur la création d’un centre régional de connaissances en Afrique centrale, les expériences des Communautés économiques régionales, notamment l’OCEAC et la CEEAC ainsi que les contributions des experts ont été recueillies afin de s’assurer qu’il n’y ait pas duplication des efforts d’une part et que la plateforme réponde aux besoins de la région et qu’il est mis en œuvre de manière efficace d’autre part. Les participants ont pu également identifier les domaines de collaboration mutuelle et définir les ressources nécessaires à l’opérationnalisation du centre régional de connaissances de l’Afrique centrale.

À l’issue de l’atelier de deux jours, le directeur régional du Centre de coordination régional de l’Afrique centrale du CDC Afrique, Dr Benjamin Djoudalbaye a déclaré : « Nous félicitons la République démocratique du Congo, le Gabon, le Tchad et le Cameroun qui se sont portés volontaires pour la phase pilote de la mise en œuvre de la plateforme et espérons que d’autres États membres leur emboiteront très prochainement le pas ».

Par ailleurs, le ministre de la Santé et de la Population, Dr Pierre Somse, a indiqué que la République centrafricaine va rejoindre les quatre pays précités pour faire partie de cette phase pilote.

##FIN##

À propos du CDC Afrique

Africa CDC est une agence technique spécialisée de l’Union africaine pour le renforcement des capacités et l’aptitude des institutions de santé publique africaines, ainsi que les partenariats, à détecter et à répondre rapidement et efficacement aux menaces et aux épidémies de maladies, sur la base d’interventions et de programmes fondés sur des données. Pour plus d’informations, veuillez consulter : http://www.africacdc.org 

À propos de l’Union africaine

L’Union africaine est le fer de lance du développement et de l’intégration de l’Afrique en étroite collaboration avec les États membres de l’Union africaine, les Communautés économiques régionales et les citoyens africains. Vision de l’UA : accélérer les progrès vers une Afrique intégrée, prospère et inclusive, en paix avec elle-même, jouant un rôle dynamique sur la scène continentale et mondiale, conduite efficacement par une Commission responsable, efficace et réactive. Pour plus d’informations, veuillez consulter : https://au.int/en/

Pour plus d’informations, merci de contacter :

Dr Justin Maeda | Coordinateur principal des CCR et chef de département planification, reporting et redevabilité | Email : justinm@africacdc.org | Africa CDC

Contact médias :   Direction de la communication et de l’information | Communications@africacdc.org | Site internet : www.africacdc.org | Addis Abeba, Éthiopie | Nous suivre : Facebook  | X | Youtube  | Linkedin

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This training aims to bolster cross-border RCCE for coordinated emergency preparedness and response in the region. Participating countries include Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. Given the interconnectivity and the frequent emergencies in the region, including public health outbreaks such as Ebola, Marburg, cholera, and yellow fever among others, enhancing cross-border collaboration is crucial.

“In addressing the challenges of health security in region, it is crucial to recognize the imminent risks posed by dynamic cross-border movement,” stated Dr. Lul Riek, Regional Director for the Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Coordinating Centres at Africa CDC. “Limited cross-border coordination and weak mechanisms for RCCE compound these challenges. By strengthening our regional collaborations and enhancing our RCCE strategies, we can more effectively deliver timely, clear, and culturally sensitive information that empowers communities to take informed actions during health crises.”

Over the past few years, RCCE has been a critical component in outbreak response in East and Southern Africa, particularly to support the social and behavioural change needed for the uptake of health interventions and effective emergency readiness and response. Through RCCE, communities are kept informed, a coordinated system is in place to manage risks, and evolving needs during crises can be managed. This shift began with preparedness activities during the 2018 Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak. Since then, initiatives including the Collective Service, through the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent emergencies in the region—have reinforced the critical role of collaboration between partners for the coordinated delivery of RCCE during health emergencies and the promise of leveraging community insights to inform and tailor other key pillars of a response.

“The urgency of our mission is heightened by a myriad of emergencies including missed vaccinations, conflict, climate sensitive diseases and climate-related disasters that increasingly threaten community resilience and livelihoods in the region. These disasters exacerbate vulnerabilities, particularly among dynamic and mobile populations and for children, presenting unique challenges to our response strategies. We need to continue to work together as response actors across pillars and borders to share and rapidly respond to recommendations emerging from community feedback and social science data, for more community-centred responses,” said Lieke van de Wiel, UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa Deputy Regional Director.

Over the years, RCCE activities have evolved beyond one-way risk communication by Ministries of Health and partners. Today, the focus lies in coordinated approaches that engage affected communities, listen to their concerns, and harness both qualitative and quantitative data. Community feedback mechanisms, qualitative research, and data triangulation—across online/digital and offline channels—drive targeted responses. These efforts deepen our understanding of critical behaviors for outbreak response and promote preventive measures.

“Let us leverage the power of data and evidence-based practices to inform our decision-making processes and tailor our interventions including messaging to the specific needs of each community. By embracing innovation and utilizing new technologies, we can enhance our ability to gather, analyse, and utilize RCCE data effectively, thereby enhancing our overall response capacity.” Dr Daniel Langat, Head of Surveillance and Response, Ministry of Health Kenya.

By convening key government actors and public health partners, RCCE partners aim to develop standard operating procedures (SOPs), action plans, and training packages to improve RCCE readiness and data utilization for effective community-centered responses to outbreaks and disasters. This workshop is essential for ensuring the protection of children and vulnerable communities and maintaining essential services during emergencies.

Sophie Everest, UK-Public Health Rapid Support Team RCCE Specialist at the UK Health Security Agency said: “The UK-PHRST is delighted to be involved in this partnership of RCCE experts from across Eastern and Southern Africa to share technical expertise and facilitate scenario-based exercises to help strengthen community-led outbreak responses in the future. It is the first time Ministries of Health, Africa CDC, Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies, WHO and UNICEF colleagues from across these countries have come together to discuss and plan how to prioritise this work, and we look forward to supporting these plans moving forwards.”

As emergency response partners in the region navigate a complex landscape of health emergencies, exacerbated by climate change and conflict, RCCE remains a critical tool in bridging knowledge, collaboration and action, in support of resilience, preparedness, and community well-being.

Africa CDC and UNICEF, in collaboration with IFRC, WHO and UK-PHRST as well as other partners, are committed to spearheading additional cross-border RCCE capacity-building workshops, thereby reinforcing resilience, preparedness, and community well-being throughout the region.

—– END —–

For media enquiries please contact:

Communication & Public Information Directorate | Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention | Email: Communications@africacdc.org and AddisMH@africacdc.org

Sasha Surandran, UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa, ssurandran@unicef.org

About Africa CDC: The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is a continental autonomous public health agency of the African Union that supports member states in their efforts to strengthen health systems and improve surveillance, emergency response, and prevention and control of diseases. Learn more at: http://www.africacdc.org

About UNICEF: UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.For more information about UNICEF and its work for children, visit https://www.unicef.org/esa/. Follow UNICEF in Africa on Twitter and Facebook

About UK-PHRST: The UK-Public Health Rapid Support Team is a key international partner in infectious disease outbreak detection, prevention, preparedness and response; operational research; and capacity strengthening. We partner with low- and-middle income countries to support effective response to outbreaks before they develop into global health emergencies, and are able to deploy teams of public health specialists over a range of technical disciplines rapidly and at short notice to outbreak areas. We are an innovative partnership between the UK Health Security Agency and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, funded with UK aid by the UK Department of Health and Social Care.

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NOTING WITH CONCERN the prolonged and ongoing epidemic of mpox in several Central and West African countries and the potential risk of transmission to neighbouring countries and beyond;
SERIOUSLY CONCERNED about the changing transmission dynamics, high mortality rate and transmissibility of the monkeypox virus, as well as the morbidity, mortality and social and economic impacts;
AWARE of the limitations on access to and acquisition of medical countermeasures, including diagnostics, treatments, vaccines and other tools for early detection, verification, care, treatment and prevention;
RECOGNIZING the common threat posed by the mpox outbreak to the health and economic security of the populations of the Central and West African regions and the urgent need to address this common threat by all member states of the African Union;
ACKNOWLEDGING the existing frameworks, protocols, strategies and agreements for cross-border solidarity, collaboration and coordination on infectious disease issues, including:

• The Constitutive Act of the African Union (2000);
• The Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union (2002);
• The International Health Regulations (2005); and, the African Union Declaration on Accelerating the Implementation of IHR in Africa (2017);
• The WHO Regional Strategy for Health Security and Emergencies, 2022-2030; and WHO African Region’s Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response Strategy, 2020-2030;
• The Framework for Collaboration Between WHO and the African Union Commission on the establishment and operationalization of Africa CDC to improve health security in Africa (2016)
• The Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (2018);
• The Memorandum of Understanding between the Commission of the African Union and the World Health Organization (2019);
• The Amended Statute of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (2022);
• The Standing Recommendations for Mpox issued by the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) under the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) to all Member States (2023).

CONVINCED of the urgent need to strengthen preparedness and response to mpox at points of entry and within the respective national borders of AU Member States, including the need for a coordinated regional and sub-regional approach to prepare and respond effectively and rapidly to mpox and other similar epidemics;
NOTING the need for a strong national focus on the recommended comprehensive interventions (surveillance, contact tracing, community engagement, vaccination and targeted research);
COMMENDING national governments in the region for their ongoing reflections and analyses of the situation, as well as their efforts to respond to mpox epidemics, including collaborative initiatives on mpox research to fill knowledge gaps;
COMMENDING Africa CDC, WHO, UNICEF, US CDC, USAID, CEPI, Wellcome Trust, GAVI and other technical and financial partners for their support to the mpox response, including cross-border collaboration between affected and at-risk neighbouring countries;

Collectively, we resolve and commit our governments and institutions to:
1. PROMOTE a ‘One Health’ approach and inclusive, community-centered response mechanisms, including:
a. Strengthen response efforts in our countries and give them the resources and political commitment they deserve;
b. Develop and implement national multi-sectoral mpox plans, outlining critical actions to control mpox in all contexts;
c. Establish multi-sectoral coordination and accountability mechanisms that include other ministries and partners;
d. Establish and develop surveillance and laboratory diagnostic capabilities to improve epidemic detection and risk assessment;
e. Engage in further research to better understand the epidemiology and transmission dynamics of mpox in our countries, including sexual transmission.
f. Provide optimally integrated and stigma-free clinical care for mpox, including access to specific treatment and support measures to protect healthcare workers and caregivers, where appropriate;
g. Collaborate and accelerate research and development and regulatory processes for the development, and ensure equitable access to safe, effective and quality countermeasures, including vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics for affected populations including children;
h. Develop strategies for the use of new technologies to facilitate sample transport (drones, etc.);
i. Strengthen organized and structured national laboratory networks; and more rational detection procedures to improve biomonitoring, biosafety and biosecurity.
2. UNDERTAKE actions to facilitate cooperation and collaboration between all African Union Member States, in particular countries affected by an mpox outbreak and other neighbouring countries, for mpox preparedness and response, including:
a. Real-time sharing and digitization of epidemiological and laboratory surveillance data and other relevant reports;
b. Cross-border collaboration and coordination in mpox preparedness and response;
c. Sharing of technical expertise and other resources required for mpox preparedness and control;
d. Joint cross-border planning and implementation of Mpox preparedness and response activities, including risk communication and community engagement campaigns, including among key populations;

e. Sharing of information on potential threats to health security arising in areas affected by mpox outbreaks;
f. Monitoring the movement of people, animals and goods across national borders in accordance with the International Health Regulations (2005);
g. Capacity building of human resources, including joint training, learning exchanges and benchmarking visits, as well as simulation exercises;
h. Development of legal and regulatory processes and logistical planning for rapid cross-border deployment of public health experts and medical personnel for the mpox response.
3. FACILITATE technical support through Africa CDC and WHO mechanisms at various levels, including headquarters offices (Africa CDC and WHO), regional collaborating centres, regional offices and country offices.
4. EXCHANGE information rapidly on preparedness and response matters of common interest in line with the IHR (2005), in order to maintain the peace, security and prosperity of affected Member States and the Continent as a whole;
5. DECIDE to establish the Africa Taskforce for Mpox Coordination among Member States affected and at-risk of mpox to:
a. Facilitate the strengthening of preparedness and response capacities to mitigate the impact of mpox in Africa and beyond;
b. Strengthen rapid epidemic response, effective surveillance, capacity building of national laboratories and engagement with affected communities
c. Develop a common regional and national roadmap outlining mpox prevention, detection and control;
d. Prioritize scientific research and evidence synthesis for a better understanding of the disease, and support evidence-based decision-making for disease prevention and control.
6. REQUEST the African Union Commission, Africa CDC and WHO to jointly facilitate coordination of the Africa Taskforce for Mpox Coordination;
7. CALL UPON ALL partners to harmonize support to Member States in the fight against mpox by interacting with the African Taskforce for Mpox Coordination to ensure that each fulfills the mandates given to them at this meeting.

Kinshasa, 13 April 2024
Democratic Republic of Congo

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The convening aimed at nurturing political commitment and attract investments in epidemic intelligence, surveillance, and biosecurity discussed guidelines on high-consequence agents and toxins (HCAT) developed by the Africa CDC, list, and review progress made by the HSPA in building sustainable health security governance systems in the 6 partner countries.

In his keynote address, Dr Ahmed Ogwell Ouma, Acting Deputy Director General of Africa CDC said, health security requires a collective effort and collaboration of multiple factors across all sectors, which is critical to meeting Africa CDC’s mandate.

“The success and sustainability of HSPA requires high-level political commitment and actively fostering an enabling policy environment. Sustainability demands regulatory reforms, long-term budget allocations, and recognizing robust early warning surveillance as integral to pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response” Dr Ouma said.

Under the auspices of the G7-led Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction, which is implementing the Signature Initiative to Mitigate Biological Threats in Africa (SIMBA), HSPA has partnered with six African countries; Mali, Morocco, Namibia, South Africa, The Gambia, and Tunisia – to strengthen epidemic intelligence, bio risk management and outbreak response capabilities across Africa for all biological threats; natural, accidental or deliberate. The Member States provided comprehensive progress reports on sustainable efforts to improve health security governance systems by their respective governments, during the meeting.

“By leveraging the strengths of a diverse set of institutional partners, the HSPA initiative represents a unique model for collaboration that aims to strengthen biosecurity on the continent. With the generous support of the Government of Canada, the WHO Hub will continue collaborating with partners to jointly support our Member States in building disease surveillance and epidemic intelligence capabilities through a Collaborative Surveillance approach”’, said Sara Hersey, Director Collaborative Intelligence, WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence.

High-level officials, decision-makers, partners and Member States had the opportunity to explore mechanisms of engaging donor institutions and private sector stakeholders on partnerships to sustain health security systems.

Biological threats are on the rise – including threats posed by the deliberate use of disease as a weapon by states or terrorists – and our efforts and commitments must rise to meet them. As part of the Signature Initiative, Canada is proud to support the Health Security Partnership in Africa and other biosecurity initiatives across Africa. These efforts, together with similar work being supported by fellow members of the 31-country Global Partnership, are rooted in our firm belief that African health-security challenges demand made in Africa solutions”, stated Ambassador Ben Marc Diendéré, Canada’s Permanent Observer to the African Union.

Africa CDC is committed to working with key partners and stakeholders through this global partnership for epidemic intelligence and biosecurity and improving disease surveillance and intelligence among African Union Member states. The agency’s efforts to foster regional health security through various policy engagement forums on the continent include the annual Oyala Health Security Forum’ hosted by Equatorial Guinea, Ministerial Executive Leadership Program, and other high-level engagement opportunities, Dr Ouma indicated.

“**END**

Media inquiries:

For media enquiries please contact:

Communication & Public Information Directorate | Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention | Email: Communications@africacdc.org|   | Website: www.africacdc.org | Addis Ababa| Ethiopia| Facebook | Twitter

For more Information

Kyeng Mercy Tetuh | Epidemic Intelligence unit lead| Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention | Email: njit@africacdc.org

About HSPA

The Global Partnership is represented by Canada, the European Union, Germany, Italy (the current G7 and GP President), the United Kingdom and the United States. It has a membership of eight co-chairs of the SIMBA’s four sub-working groups. The partnership combines public health and national security expertise to build impactful, sustainable capabilities in epidemic intelligence, bio-risk management, and outbreak response.

About Africa CDC The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is a continental autonomous public health agency of the African Union that supports member states in their efforts to strengthen health systems and improve surveillance, emergency response, and prevention and control of diseases. Learn more at: http://www.africacdc.org

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Building on the health commitments of the 6th EU-AU Summit and outcomes of the Addis Ababa AU-EU High-level dialogue, the AU and EU expanded collaboration in priority areas of common interest in the New Public Health Order and the EU Global Health Strategy, such as strengthening pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, One Health, AMR, digital health, climate and health. This collaboration is a positive example of the AU-EU partnership to support global health in multilateral fora. Enhancing equitable access to safe, qualitive, effective and affordable health services and products and national sovereignty will be key to reach SDG-targets such as achieving Universal Health Coverage. Therefore, it is crucial to support social protection systems which incorporate social health protection, aiming at gradually granting universal health coverage as well as at providing income security in case of sickness. The AU and EU further stressed the importance of the health sector in the creation of jobs and growth. They also expressed their commitment to conclude negotiations on a pandemic agreement and International Health Regulations by the May 2024 World Health Assembly.

Most African countries are struggling to ensure sustainable and equitable access to the health products needed to meet the continent’s priority health needs. At the same time, the EU has expertise in health as well as manufacturing and access, including regulation of health products and has set out clear targets in supporting human development in its international partnerships.

With this High-level conference, the EU engages in continued technical collaboration on health in Africa and investments in strengthening Africa’s health security architecture. The EU’s Global Gateway strategy will be key to deliver on these commitments, notably through Team Europe Initiatives, increasing the resilience of European and African health systems in response to the rapidly shifting health burden, social protection, the impact of climate change and emerging health threats while considering innovative science, sharing of technical expertise and knowledge (as well as multi-stakeholder commitments).

The Belgian Presidency and the European Commission will follow up on the high-level conference in the European Council and in the governing bodies of the EU’s international cooperation instruments, aligned with shared interests and ambitions of European and African partners.

African Union Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development,

H.E. Amb. Minata Samate Cessouma

“The establishment of the African Medicines Agency (AMA) marks a crucial step forward in safeguarding health security on the continent by ensuring the availability and the accessibility of quality pharmaceutical products. This availability and accessibility facilitate prevention strategies and rapid responses to health emergencies, strengthening regulatory capacities and promoting regional cooperation and harmonisation of standards. By harmonising regulatory processes and promoting access to effectual medical products, the AMA can significantly enhance public health outcomes and promote sustainable development in Africa, as envisioned in the Africa Health Strategy (2016-2030) and the African Union Agenda 2063. AMA is also envisioned to bolster research and development efforts within the continent, fostering innovation and self-reliance in addressing health challenges specific to the continent. Looking to the future, the African Union Commission is enthusiastic about knowledge-sharing between the European Union and Africa to leverage the experience of establishing the European Mediines Agency to chart guidance and regulatory pathways for the development and approval of new manufacturing technologies and processes.

Belgian Minister of Development Cooperation and Major Cities,

H.E. Caroline GENNEZ

“The EU and Africa express a shared vision of health as the precondition for social development. African countries have extensive experience in the containment of epidemics; European countries have some of the best and most accessible healthcare in the world. Global health is an area in which the EU offers added value as a partner to Africa based on its expertise and experience. Europe bolsters its international partnerships by focusing on its unique selling proposition. Our cooperation on this front will improve health outcomes for countless of people, in Africa and Europe. Our focus will be on building affordable, available and high-quality healthcare systems.”

European Commissioner for International Partnerships,

H.E. Jutta URPILAINEN

“Learning the lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, the AU and the EU are committed to advance health systems and strengthen health capacities globally. This joint commitment was well reflected in the Global Gateway investment package, which we presented at the AU-EU Summit of 2022. We are proud of the results achieved in increasing local manufacturing of medicines and vaccines in Africa, for Africa. Today we launch three major Team Europe Initiatives on health security, digital health and public health institutes, and strengthen cooperation between our institutions. This is another step forward to better confront evolving health challenges and to enhance the resilience of our communities.”

European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety,

H.E. Stella KYRIAKIDES

“An ever-closer partnership between the African Union and the European Union is indispensable for public health. We want to work more closely with our African partners on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, One Health and anti-microbial resistance, as well as the health effects of climate change. These are core objectives for our EU Global Health Strategy and the foundations of our cooperation with the African continent. We are now at a critical stage of the negotiations on the pandemic agreement and the international health regulations, with which we would provide new multilateral solutions to common challenges. The EU is committed to conclude the negotiations by May, a responsibility equally shared by all nations. I am pleased that the African Union and EU are joining voices and taking concrete steps to support global health internationally.”

Africa CDC Director General,

H.E Dr Jean Kaseya

“As we navigate the complexities of global health, Africa is on the path towards self-sufficiency through equitable access to medical products. Africa’s target of producing 60% of vaccines by 2040 through the Africa CDC underscores our commitment to health sovereignty. Through strategic partnerships like the EU-AU collaboration, we accelerate our capabilities, leveraging expertise and resources to build resilient health systems and strengthen Pandemic preparedness.”

Specific outcomes of the high-level conference include the following concrete engagements:

• Working Arrangement between Africa CDC and the European Commission to best implement the expanded strategic AU-EU Health partnership;
• The European Commission and the Belgian Presidency announced additional TEI MAV+ funding for the advancement of the African Medicines Agency;
• The announcement of procurement commitments by Global Health Initiatives to buy in Africa for Africa;
• Three additional Team Europe Initiatives on health were launched: Health Security using a One Health approach, Digital Health, and Public Health Institutes;
• The Team Europe Initiative (TEI) on Social Protection was launched;
• Work product leads for Team Europe and Team Africa were confirmed;
• A new programme ‘SafeBirth Africa’ to support improved access to innovative life-saving commodities for sexual and reproductive health in Africa. The programme will be implemented by Unitaid and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), supported by a financial contribution of €20 million from the EU budget under the Team Europe Initiative on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights that was launched in Kigali in December 2022;
• An expanded AU-EU High Level Steering Meeting (HLSM) at DG-level will jointly oversee regional heath TEIs.
  
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  Media inquiry:
  Communication and Public Information Directorate| Africa CDC | Email: Communications@africacdc.org

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It also responds to Africa’s New Public Health Order (NPHO) goals, recognising workforce development as a critical priority.

The AMHLP will be based on a specialised curriculum and shaped by insights from people with lived experience, targeting workforce development interventions delivered through various Pathways, namely:

• Embedding the programme into the existing Africa CDC—Kofi Annan Global Health Leadership Programme and the Field Epidemiology Training Programme.
•  Delivering the programme through short courses and,
• Strengthening Networks of civil society organisations (CSOs) and equipping them with knowledge and skills to build, strengthen their capacity and influence mental health policies and practices.

His Excellency Dr Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa CDC, highlighted the significance of this programme, noting its urgency for the continent. “This collaboration underscores our commitment to improving mental health across Africa and supporting our member states’ efforts. Our partnership with Wellcome is, therefore, laudable. Considering that mental health is a neglected health concern globally, we are proud of this progress as we work toward its integration into the broader health systems’’.

The programme will mobilise decision-makers to support countries in reforming services and advising on public health measures to promote and protect mental health and well-being. This aligns with the African CDC’s 2023-2027 Strategic Plan priority to strengthen integrated health systems to prevent and control high-burden diseases in the Member States.

“With this important initiative, the Africa CDC is leading the way in positioning mental health high on the policy agenda across Africa. By creating a cohort of leaders who understand and can advocate for context-specific, evidence-based approaches to mental health, this programme will enable better solutions to address the pressing needs of so many,” said Professor Miranda Wolpert, Director of Mental Health at Wellcome.

Although the continent has several factors that promote mental health and well-being, such as close-knit and supportive families, cultural traditions that bring communities together, and healthy traditional diets and lifestyles, numerous challenges threaten health and well-being. These challenges include living in poverty, residing in an area with protracted conflict, or lacking access to adequate health, education, and social services.

Henceforth, with this programme, Africa CDC aims to create a pool of mental health professional leaders capable of supporting reforms in mental health systems in the Member States, advocating for increased prioritisation and investment in mental health, and further building a strong network of professionals across the continent.

The Africa CDC is working with the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), CBM Global Disability Inclusion, and other vital institutions on the continent to develop the curriculum’s domains and ensure successful implementation of the programme.

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For more information:

Dr. Abdulaziz Mohammed, Head of Division, Disease Control and Prevention |Africa CDC| mohammedab@africa-union.org

Media inquiry:

Communication and Public Information Directorate| Africa CDC | Email: Communications@africacdc.org

About the Africa CDC Mental Health Leadership Programme

The Africa CDC Mental Health Leadership Programme (AMHLP) directly supports this system-strengthening approach to promoting mental health by strengthening the public health workforce and contributing to a critical mass for advocacy within Member State health systems for more robust prioritisation and investment.

About Africa CDC

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is the continental autonomous Health agency of the African Union that strengthens the capacity and capability of Africa’s public health institutions as well as partnerships to detect and respond quickly and effectively to disease threats and outbreaks, based on data-driven interventions and programmes. Learn more at: http://www.africacdc.org 

About Wellcome Wellcome supports science to solve the urgent health challenges facing everyone. We support discovery research into life, health and wellbeing, and we’re taking on three worldwide health challenges: mental health, infectious disease and climate and health.

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H.E Dr Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, and Ted Chaiban, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director for Humanitarian Action and Supply Operations, signed the expanded partnership agreement in Addis Ababa.

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the fragility of many healthcare systems and highlighted deficiencies and challenges in medical supply chains. While countries with strong primary healthcare systems were better able to cope, the disruption caused by the pandemic left others facing shortages of vital medical commodities. Over the next four years, Africa CDC and UNICEF will work together to establish robust institutional backing for supply chain management and enhance pooled procurement mechanisms to fortify Africa’s healthcare infrastructure, ensuring timely and adequate access to essential medical supplies for its population.

H.E Jean Kaseya expressed his pride in the partnership with UNICEF, stating that their shared commitments will enhance primary healthcare and strengthen Africa’s health security. ‘‘The partnership will optimise supply chain management, operationalise the pool procurement mechanism for Africa CDC, empower community health workers, and advance local manufacturing. Ultimately, these efforts will strengthen immunisation systems and reduce outbreaks and epidemics on the continent’’, he says.

Immunisation is one of the most effective public health interventions globally. However, millions of children in Africa are still deprived of life-saving vaccinations. UNICEF’s The State of the World’s Children

2023: For Every Child, Vaccination report revealed that 12.7 million children were under-vaccinated in 2021, including 8.7 million who did not receive a single dose, also called “zero-dose” children.

“This partnership is a commitment to the well-being of children and their families, affirming their right to health. By strengthening our partnership with Africa CDC and the Joint Emergency Action Plan for Africa, we can ensure communities get the support they need without delay,” said Ted Chaiban, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director for Humanitarian Action and Supply Operations. “The push forward on paid and protected community health workers, medical supplies made in Africa, for Africans, remains one of our highest priorities.”

During the past two years, UNICEF and Africa CDC have achieved significant milestones in strengthening Africa CDC’s institutional capacity and catalysing community health programmes, immunisation systems, emergency response, and supply chain enhancement. Collaborative efforts secured the procurement of COVID-19 vaccine doses and essential cold chain equipment for routine immunisation. Joint high-level advocacy initiatives focused on immunisation, community health, and response to public health emergencies.

Africa imports 99% of its vaccines and 70 to 90% of its medicines and medical devices, which is a significant challenge. Africa CDC aims to achieve sustainable production and supply of essential health commodities through African manufacturers, considered Africa’s second independence by Africa CDC. Africa CDC’s goal is to work with African Union Member States and partners to actively advocate for and support the procurement of vaccines made in Africa and prioritise initiatives that strengthen local manufacturing.

Through the Partnership for Vaccine Manufacturing, Africa CDC aims to manufacture 60% of the continent’s vaccine needs by 2040, paving the way toward robust and self-reliant health systems, ensuring that people can obtain and use health commodities when and where required.

The expanded partnership between Africa CDC and UNICEF signifies a concerted effort to address Africa’s pressing health challenges. By prioritising immunisation, strengthening health systems, and promoting local production, both organisations are poised to make tangible and sustainable impacts on the health and well-being of children and communities across the continent while safeguarding Africa’s health security.

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About the Partnership

The Africa CDC and UNICEF Partnership Framework Agreement, commenced in 2022 and extended today to 2027, contributes to the goals and objective of Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want. The partnership framework outlines three programmatic areas of collaboration: (i) public health emergency preparedness and response; (ii) immunization systems strengthening; and (iii) procurement and supply chain systems strengthening. Under the partnership extension, this collaboration will expand, particularly in the areas of system strengthening for primary health care (including community health and nutrition systems), in supply chain management, regional and pooled procurement, manufacturing and emergency preparedness and response.   

About Africa CDC

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is a continental autonomous public health agency of the African Union that supports member states in their efforts to strengthen health systems and improve surveillance, emergency response, and prevention and control of diseases. Learn more at: http://www.africacdc.org

About UNICEF

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone. Learn more at www.unicef.org.

Media inquiries: 

Communication and Public Information Directorate| Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention| Email:  Communications@africacdc.org| Ricardo Pires| UNICEF New York | Tel: +1 917 631 1226 | Email: rpires@unicef.org

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The Director General of Africa CDC, Dr. Jean Kaseya, said: “The decision means creating a robust market for manufacturers and ensuring the health security of all Africans. This will be the second independence of Africa.”

The African market size for medicines and vaccines is approximately 50 billion USD annually. Africa CDC will lead the pooled procurement initiative in collaboration with continental and global partners. The move is also designed to ensure that African Union member states can get better deals on price.

The African Union has also voted to appoint H.E. President William Ruto of Kenya as the local manufacturing champion to ensure the continent reaches its goal of vaccine self-reliance. This keeps local manufacturing on the agenda for the continent and the world and prioritises health security for the African population. Less than one per cent of vaccines are currently manufactured on the continent. African leaders aim that 60% of the vaccines to be manufactured in Africa by 2040.

In a significant move, the AU also voted to broaden the Africa CDC’s mandate to include the manufacturing of medicines and diagnostics, in addition to its current remit of vaccines.

For more information and Media Inquiries:

Ndahafa Nakwafila|Communication and Public Information Directorate| Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention| Email: Communications@africacdc.org

About Africa CDC

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is a continental autonomous Public Health agency of the African Union which supports Member States in their efforts to strengthen health systems and improve surveillance, emergency response, prevention and control of diseases. Learn more at: http://www.africacdc.org

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