Africa CDC urges countries to strengthen public health systems
HARARE, June 25 (Xinhua) -- The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on Wednesday urged African countries to bolster their public health systems in preparation for future pandemics and health threats.
Speaking at the opening of the Fourth Annual Southern Africa National Public Health Institute (NPHI) Meeting held in the Zimbabwean capital of Harare on Wednesday, Africa CDC Regional Director Lul Riek said pandemics such as COVID-19, Marburg virus and mpox exposed weaknesses in the continent's health mechanisms, policies and interventions, hence the need for Africa to build robust public health systems.
"Based on the lessons that we have learned, it is necessary for every country in Africa to have a functional, operational NPHI," Riek said, adding that the capacity gaps identified during the previous pandemics led the Africa CDC to formulate a new public health order to prepare Africa for future pandemics and health threats.
According to Riek, the new public health order hinges on five pillars, namely strengthening NPHIs, expanding local manufacturing, enhancing the public health workforce, increasing domestic health financing, and fostering action-oriented partnerships.
"Our ultimate goal is to ensure that all 55 African Union members have functional NPHIs capable of driving progress toward a healthier, more resilient Africa," Riek said, noting that NPHIs play a vital role in promoting health, preventing disease, and protecting populations.
He told Xinhua in a follow-up interview that 10 out of the 16 Southern African Development Community members have functional NPHIs and urged remaining countries, including Zimbabwe, to establish the institutes.
Desta Tiruneh, the World Health Organization (WHO) representative for Zimbabwe, noted that NPHIs are crucial in bolstering the resilience of Africa's public health systems amid declining external funding for the health sector.
"NPHIs have a pivotal role to play. As national centers of public health expertise and coordination, their role in research, training, capacity building, and emergency response coordination is indispensable," said Tiruneh, reaffirming the WHO's support to African countries in building resilient and sustainable public health systems.
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