Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | 21st October 2022: The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) conducted a hybrid technical consultation with Member States to co-design and define the priorities of the Africa CDC Viral Hepatitis Prevention and Control Programme from 20th to 21st, October 2022 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The meeting brought together participants from 23 African Union Member States from the five regions of Africa. Participants were also drawn from partner organisations, including the WHO Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO), the Hepatitis Fund, and the World Hepatitis Alliance.
The meeting provided a stage for viral hepatitis experts from Member States and partner organisations to provide Africa CDC with feedback on the proposed methodology of support for the Africa CDC Continental Viral Hepatitis Prevention and Control Programme. The two-day forum also provided a platform to share experience on lessons learnt, best practices, and discussions on how to best coordinate common efforts to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat in Africa by 2030.
“Let us share our specific needs and challenges and offer concrete solutions in line with the New Public Health Order for Africa. Let us use our best practices generated here in Africa as a basis for our progress. Let us celebrate our success stories even as we aim to do better. You are doing excellent work and we must tell our story clearly and regularly,” said Dr. Ahmed Ogwell Ouma, Acting Director, Africa CDC in his welcome remarks.
Speaking during the forum, the new Director of the Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development at the Africa Union Commission, Professor Julio Rakotonirina noted that there is plenty of room for the generation of comprehensive, reliable, and evidence-based data to produce accurate information and indicators which in-turn will help policymakers make decisions to effectively combat viral hepatitis.
As a follow up, the discussions generated during the meeting and feedback will be distilled into a meeting report and a longlist of priorities for implementation through the Africa CDC Continental Viral Hepatitis Prevention and Control Programme. “It is important for us to consult extensively, not just with Member States, but with our partners who have already been working for a long time in this field to ensure we identify some key priorities where we can have the most impact as Africa CDC,” Dr. Nafiisah Chotun, Programme Lead for Endemic and Neglected tropical diseases at Africa CDC commented.
“As Africa CDC we continue to urge MS not to be intimidated by the magnitude of the tasks. We can learn from the experiences of Egypt’s elimination program and gather inspiration to know that we can and should have an incremental strategy; to focus on the most vulnerable and then build and sustain your programmes” concluded Dr Mohammed Abdulaziz, Head of Division of Disease Control and Prevention at Africa CDC.
For more information contact:
Dr. Nafiisah Chotun – Programme Lead for Endemic and Neglected Tropical Diseases
Africa CDC
Media Contacts:
Mr. Kelvin Gichia – Communication Officer
Africa CDC
About the Africa CDC: The Africa CDC’s mission is to strengthen Africa’s public health institution’s capacities, capabilities, and partnerships to detect and respond quickly and effectively to disease threats and outbreaks based on science, policy, and data-driven interventions and programmes. Learn more at: http://www.africacdc.orgAbout the African Union: The African Union spearheads Africa’s development and integration in close collaboration with African Union Member States, the Regional Economic Communities, and African citizens. AU Vision: to accelerate progress towards an integrated, prosperous and inclusive Africa, at peace with itself, playing a dynamic role in the continental and global arena, effectively driven by an accountable, efficient and responsive Commission. Learn more at: https://au.int/en/
