Africa CDC Head Stresses Linked Solutions for Public Health crises
Africa is at a crossroads. The continent is fighting multiple disease outbreaks amid a tightening fiscal space that is affecting many of our trusted funding partners. It will take collaboration beyond the health sector, adaptation to the rapidly changing world, advancing digital health solutions and investment in local manufacturing – all while bringing together African […]
Africa’s Pursuit of Cost-Effective Community Health Worker Services
Fifteen service categories, comprising a total of 110 interventions, have been identified in Africa as priorities for delivery through Community Health Workers. Now, health economists are analyzing the cost of each package to determine how it can transform health outcomes across the continent. The Health Economics and Financing Division, along with the Division of Community Health Systems at Africa […]
A New Digital Health Platform for Africa
As the use of digital tools for effective healthcare delivery gradually takes hold in Africa, the Africa CDC has unveiled a new platform that caters to member states’ differing technology needs, including access, cost, and infrastructure. ‘The Africa HealthTech Marketplace‘ which showcases targeted, accessible digital health solutions, was launched on 29 October in Kigali, Rwanda, […]
New Guidance Sets Path to Strengthen AMR Surveillance
With antimicrobial resistance (AMR) now a leading threat to public health in Africa—causing more fatalities than HIV, TB, and malaria combined—a new surveillance guidance released in October aims to tackle the growing threat of AMR on the continent. Launched in September, the guidance is the culmination of collaborative efforts from countries across Africa, as well as […]
Smallpox Drug in Clinical Trials for Treating Mpox in Africa
A drug currently approved for smallpox in the U.S. will undergo clinical trials to treat patients infected by the Mpox viruswho are at risk of severe complications in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring countries, starting in the fourth quarter of this year. The MpOx Study in Africa (MOSA) will evaluate the safety and efficacy […]
Strengthening Immunisation in Eswatini
Four years after Eswatini adopted five-dose Measles-Rubella vaccine vials for routine immunisation, Africa CDC joined WHO-AFRO, Eswatini’s Ministry of Health, and UNICEF to assess this pivotal shift. The transition aimed to boost vaccine efficiency, reduce wastage, and expand access, particularly in remote areas facing logistical challenges. The assessment examined how these vials are integrated into routine practices and explored the […]
Spotlight: Inside the Heart of Stemming Mpox Spread in Africa
Nineteen African states—those currently reporting or that have reported Mpox cases within this outbreak—gathered in a ‘back-to-school’ style meeting in Congo Brazzaville in the first week of November. They shared expertise on developing Mpox vaccination plans, according to the continental Incident Management Support Team (IMST) vaccination pillar. A review of plans submitted to the IMST revealed some concerning issues. Some […]
Assessment Reveals Gaps in Risk Communication Preparedness in Member States
A preliminary assessment in three African countries indicates that some member states are not adequately equipped to perform risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) for emergency preparedness and response to public health crises. Africa CDC, in collaboration with the Public Health – Risk Communication and Community Engagement – Community of Practice for Africa (PH-RCCE-CoPA), assessed Liberia, Uganda, […]
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 […]