Africa requires skills to plug gaps in diagnostic capacity and disease surveillance
Africa has increased technical capacity for diagnosing infectious diseases since the COVID-19 epidemic but with ongoing outbreaks of diseases there is an urgent need to address the gaps in diagnostic capacity and disease surveillance says new research published in the journal, Frontiers Public Health. Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) says the […]
Youth Network Set to Drive Innovations in Digital Health
Young Africans are set to transform the digital health landscape with the launch of the Youth in Digital Health Network (YiDHN) by Africa CDC in collaboration with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit-African Union (GIZ-AU) office. Africa CDC’s Youth Division announced this programme on the sidelines of the 2024 Africa HealthTech Summit in Kigali, Rwanda. The youth-led […]
Experts Defend the Need for Promoting Mental Health in the Workplace
Multiple public health emergencies and challenges continue to take a toll on mental health across Africa. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has taken a stand to support countries in conducting investment cases for mental health to provide strong evidence for prioritizing mental health in the workplace. On October 16, the agency […]
Two-Dose Strategy and Targeted Interventions Drive Mpox Campaign
The Mpox vaccination campaign in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) began on October 4, with Africa CDC Director General Dr Jean Kaseya emphasising the importance of two doses. While a single dose provides over 50% protection, Dr Kaseya stated: “We don’t want to compromise the health of our people.” The vaccination campaign was launched […]
The New Public Health Order at the Pan African Parliament
The 12th Annual Conference of Speakers of National and Regional Parliament hosted by the Pan African Parliament (PAP) in Midrand, South Africa, was a landmark event, that brought together Africa’s parliamentarians to shape the continent’s future, discussing key issues on the continent including devastating floods, climate change, Mpox, Non-Communicable Diseases, food security, regional cooperation and peacebuilding. On 18 September 2024, Dr. […]
Africa CDC Strengthens Laboratory Capacity for Mpox and Other Outbreaks in Burundi
Africa CDC continues to support Mpox response in Africa through the strengthening of diagnostic capacity, surveillance, case detection and management, contact tracing, Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) among other efforts. In strengthening laboratory diagnostic capacity for mpox and other pathogens, the Africa CDC supported the Institut National de Santé Publique (INSP) with sample management and referral, biosafety and biosecurity trainings, and enhancing molecular testing and […]
AMR in Focus at Africa’s First One Health Congress
Cape Town hosted the first World One Health Congress in Africa, where Africa CDC led a well-attended side event on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a rapidly growing health threat across the continent. AMR occurs when microorganisms—bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites—resist treatment. In many African countries, the unchecked sale and misuse of antibiotics for viral infections and […]
Rwanda Launches Event-Based Surveillance Guidelines
The Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) has introduced a new set of Event-Based Surveillance (EBS) guidelines designed to enhance the country’s public health response amidst the ongoing mpox outbreak. Rwanda adapted the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)’s revised EBS framework published in 2023. The guidelines were finalized, approved, and launched during a […]
Central African Countries Strengthen Effective Response to Health Emergencies
A year after the regional meeting held in Burundi in 2023, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) continues to advocate for and to review the progress made in the establishment and strengthening of National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs). Africa CDC organized a regional meeting from 16 to 17 September 2024 for […]
Empowering Africa’s Public Health Laboratory Workforce Helps to Advance Outbreak Investigation
Upskilling public health laboratory scientists with cutting-edge molecular diagnostic capabilities for rapidly and accurately detecting current and future infectious disease outbreaks is a must, if the continent is to win the battle against outbreaks and health emergencies. Africa is vulnerable to the increased risk and high burden of infectious disease outbreaks, compounded by the lack […]