Latest news with #epidemicpreparedness
Zawya
2 days ago
- Health
- Zawya
Africa Launches Continental Strategy to Decentralize Diagnostics and Accelerate Outbreak Response
In a major step toward faster and more localized outbreak response, Africa CDC convened public health leaders from ten African countries in Yaoundé to co-develop a continental framework for decentralizing laboratory services. The four-day workshop, which began on 14 July, placed equitable access to diagnostics at the core of Africa's epidemic preparedness and response strategy. Organized by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), in partnership with the Ministry of Health of Cameroon, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the European Union, the workshop brought together government officials, national laboratory directors, and public health experts from across the continent. Together, they produced the Continental Guidance for the Decentralization of Laboratory Services—a practical, action-oriented tool to help Member States design national diagnostic strategies that bring testing closer to communities and improve outbreak detection and response. 'Member States cannot respond effectively to outbreaks if diagnostic capacity is limited to national reference laboratories. Detection capabilities must be decentralized to sub-national levels and below to enhance early warning surveillance and timely confirmation of disease threats,' said Dr. Yenew Kebede Tebeje, Acting Director, Centre for Laboratory Diagnostics and Systems, Africa CDC. 'Decentralized laboratory services are also essential for achieving Universal Health Coverage.' Dr. Kakambi Christelle, a senior official from Cameroon's Ministry of Public Health, shared the country's approach to decentralizing diagnostics for epidemic-prone diseases. This includes strengthening regional laboratories, training personnel, establishing a national sample transport system, and conducting lab mapping to improve surveillance. 'Laboratory detection is the first line of defense in identifying potential outbreaks. Decentralizing labs widens the net, increasing our chances of catching the culprit pathogen early and guiding timely public health action,' said Rachel Achilla, WHO AFRO representative. Delegations from Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) demonstrated how Mpox diagnostic capacity was expanded from just two laboratories to 56 in Burundi and 27 in DRC—within a single year—dramatically improving detection and case management. 'One of the key lessons learned from recent epidemics in Africa is the strategic value of decentralizing diagnostics to overcome sample transport delays and accelerate response,' noted Professor Pembe Issamou Mayengue, researcher at the National Public Health Laboratory, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo. However, participants acknowledged that decentralization is not without challenges. While it brings diagnostics closer to communities, it also multiplies the burden on fragile health systems—particularly where data integration, trained personnel, equipment maintenance, supply chain management, electricity, and internet access remain unresolved. 'National Public Health Laboratories serve as the backbone of laboratory services decentralization by setting standards, guiding policy, ensuring quality, and mentoring peripheral laboratories. Their leadership is critical to building a resilient, responsive system,' emphasized Gifty Boateng, a public health researcher and academic from Ghana. Over four days, participants co-developed a practical, adaptive guideline rooted in African realities and global good practices. The document offers strategic orientations to help countries implement decentralization in ways that ensure ownership, institutional integration, and sustainability. 'If we move from two laboratories with chronic issues in sample collection, data flow, infrastructure weakness, and supply chain bottlenecks, decentralizing laboratories means multiplying these challenges in proportion to the expansion,' warned Yao Selom, Unit Lead for Laboratory Systems and Networks at Africa CDC. 'Our presence here is essential to guide, alert, and support Member States in identifying what to consider, how to prepare, and how to move forward.' This initiative is part of the Partnership to Accelerate Mpox and Other Outbreaks Testing and Sequencing in Africa (PAMTA) program, launched by Africa CDC and ASLM, and co-funded by the European Union through the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), and administered by the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA). It contributes to a broader continental effort to strengthen diagnostics, build technical capacity, and improve readiness for epidemic threats across Africa. Together, we can detect faster, respond smarter, and save lives! Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
Zawya
03-07-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Red Cross and Red Crescent network supports the African Union and its Member States' commitment to eliminate cholera by 2030
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), in collaboration with its African National Society members, fully supports the African Union (AU) and its member states in their efforts to eliminate cholera across the continent. Forged during a high-level meeting of AU member states in June, this new commitment centers on strengthening community-based health services and epidemic preparedness, working closely with local communities to achieve lasting solutions. The IFRC commends the leadership and united commitment demonstrated by the Heads of State, Government, and Delegations, who gathered in June under the AU's framework to advance a strong and coordinated response to the ongoing multi-country cholera outbreaks, which in 2025 are affecting approximately 20 Member States. The IFRC and its African National Society members, fully endorse the priorities outlined in the Call-to-Action to End Cholera and Achieve Elimination by 2030 with particular emphasis on: • strengthening national and regional preparedness, • scaling up investments in sustainable water, sanitation and health (WASH) infrastructure, • placing communities and civil society at the heart of cholera elimination agenda. A deep community presence As auxiliary partners to public authorities in the humanitarian field, Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies in Africa bring unique value through their deep community presence, trusted local networks, and mandate to complement government action. With operations in all AU Member States, the IFRC and its African National Society members are uniquely positioned to deliver localised, people-centred responses that translate policy commitments into life-saving action. Recognising the cross-cutting impacts of cholera on already strained health systems—the Red Cross Red Crescent Network has scaled up its efforts to prevent, detect, and respond to outbreaks through high-impact, community-driven interventions such as: Community-based Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT): Delivered at the household level via Oral Rehydration Points (ORPs), ensuring timely access to lifesaving care. Emergency water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) interventions: Implemented in affected households and surrounding areas to stop transmission. Support to Oral Cholera Vaccination (OCV) campaigns: Including community mobilization, social mobilization, and logistics assistance. Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE): Embedded across all pillars of response to promote behaviour change, drive surveillance, and enable early action. Cross-border collaboration facilitated to prevent, control and recover from cholera outbreaks at community level in collaboration with local authorities. In addition, the IFRC hosts the Country Support Platform (CSP), the operational arm of the Global Task Force on Cholera Control, which supports AU Member States in developing and implementing National Cholera Plans, accessing technical expertise, and mobilizing domestic and external resources. Aligned with the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the Continental Framework for Cholera Elimination, IFRC is also investing in multi-hazard anticipatory action to prepare authorities, communities and other concerned stakeholders ahead of Cholera outbreaks. This is done in part through the development of Early Action Protocols, systems that trigger preparatory actions before a crisis hits. Such protocols empower African National Societies to act early by pre-positioning supplies, training volunteers, and accessing forecast-based financing enabling faster, more cost-effective responses before outbreaks escalate. With more than 3.8 million trained volunteers across Africa and a presence in every community, the Red Cross Red Crescent Network is well-positioned to bring life-saving interventions to those most at risk before, during and after outbreaks. Together, we can eliminate Cholera Cholera is preventable, and together, we can eliminate it. Our volunteers are trusted members of the communities they serve. Through early action, health education, and emergency interventions, we are proud to contribute to this continental ambition to eliminate cholera and protect lives. Through these efforts, the IFRC and African National Societies reaffirm their unwavering commitment to support AU Member States in achieving national and continental targets for cholera control and elimination. The IFRC is dedicated to working hand-in-hand with the African Union Commission, Africa CDC, Member States, and other partners to build resilient health systems, empower communities, and end cholera as a threat to public health and development across the continent. Together, we can defeat cholera and ensure that no one is left behind. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
Zawya
08-05-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Nigeria: Kano has achieved significant strides in health security — NHED
The Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED), has said that Kano State has made significant strides by being the first state in the country to adopt and domesticate health security and accountability aimed at having funds on the ground to confront an emergency breakout of epidemic. This was just as the body stressed the need for the media to track health financing allocations and expenditures to ensure greater transparency and accountability. Making this known, project technical adviser and director of the NHED, Dr Jerom Mafeni, said, 'We were here in Kano with the state government on finalising the health security finalisation and accountability. 'This will help Kano strengthen health security preparedness. The major benefits is that whenever there is a epidemic,like outbreak of meanigjtiese or cholera, the state would not be caught unaware financially to confront with money. 'This indicated that the state has in place immediate system to respond to limit the number of lives that could have lost to such an epidemic. 'In adopting this framework, Kano state indeed been the first state not only to adopting this framework, but also domesticated the framework within the state.' As well as passing the health security bill and establishing the agencies look after the epidemic and preparedness to confront it headlong and solve the problem. According to NHED, such strides include the passage of the public health security bill and the government's formal adoption of the Health Security Financing Accountability Framework (HSFAF). According to him, the media has a role to play in scrutinising public funds, track spending and ensure transparency in order to avoid mismanagement and ensure that the funds serve the purpose intended 'Health security is not just a government responsibility it is a public good. 'We urge you to track the implementation of this framework, spotlight both progress and bottlenecks, and keep the spotlight on health security financing – not only in emergencies, but every day. 'The HSFAF provided a structure to follow the money, track spending and support transparency,' he said Mafeni, commended Kano state Government for the passage of the public health security bill and the government's formal adoption of the HSFAF. Meanwhile, in a statement by NHED's Communication Lead, Tessy Nongo Maina, said the Network made the submission during a media briefing in partnership with civil society stakeholders held in Kano on Wednesday to spotlight the importance of accountability in health security financing in Kano State. She then described the strides as critical first steps toward building a system that ensures readiness in the face of health emergencies. 'However, progress cannot stop at policy adoption. Implementation requires resources, monitoring and public engagement. This is where the media has a vital role to play. 'NHED is calling on journalists to go beyond one-time event reporting to ask tough questions, track funding flows, and bring attention to both gaps and achievements in epidemic preparedness. 'Health security is not just a government responsibility it is a public good. Journalists must help keep this issue on the agenda by telling data-driven, human-centered stories that make health security financing relevant to everyday citizens. 'The HSFAF provides a structure to follow the money, track spending, and support transparency. But without data and public oversight, it risks remaining on paper,' the statement said. NHED called for continued collaboration with the media to ensure that 'these tools are fully operational and impactful.' 'We cannot afford to be reactive in the face of health threats. The systems we build now -including systems of accountability will determine how we respond. 'The media is not a bystander in this process. You are essential partners in building public trust and strengthening preparedness. 'We invite all members of the press to take up this challenge and keep health security in focus, not just today, but consistently, as we work to protect lives and build resilient systems in Kano State,' the statement added. Tessy Nongo said the media are critical and essential partners in building public trust and strengthening preparedness for epidemic and health threats. While the representative of the Kano State Civil Society Forum, Salisu Yusuf called on the government to publish it performance on quarterly basis to enable the residents to track and know if the public funds is really meeting their yearnings. Copyright © 2022 Nigerian Tribune Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
