By Kemo Cham
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and Africa Public Health Foundation (APHF) have announced a new partnership agreement aimed at strengthening health systems in Africa Union Member States.
The two institutions signed the agreement on Thursday, July 25, 2024, according to a joined statement shared with ManoReporters.
Africa CDC, an autonomous public health agency of the African Union, was established to support member states in efforts to strengthen health systems and improve surveillance, emergency response, and prevention and control of diseases.
APHF, on the other hand, was established to enable investments in public health activities that support Africa CDC’s goals and objectives. It’s main areas of operation include resource mobilisation, grants management, advocacy for improved policies, private sector engagement and contribution to the analysis of public health data.
The two have been working together since 2020, including on emergencies like Covid-19, cholera and Marburg.
APHF Governing Council
Chair and Founder. Image, SheDecides
This strategic partnership is mean to expand their collaboration, focusing on the priority areas of the Africa CDC, according to the statement issued on Friday. It notes that the areas of concentration include strengthening public health institutions and the workforce, expanding local manufacturing of vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics, and building partnerships with critical stakeholders within the broader health ecosystem.
The agreement is designed to also consolidate “the joint work that has yielded several achievements, taking it to the next level now that we have moved from the emergency response to address the challenges the continent still faces holistically and from a longer term- perspective,” the statement reads in part.
Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, is quoted in the statement saying that the partnership with APHF is crucial in the implementation of Africa CDC’s ‘New Public Health Order.’
The ‘New Public Health Order for Africa,’ launched in 2021, seeks to strengthen the self-sufficiency of the continent’s public health systems and to address the current global imbalances by augmenting its collective voice on global health matters and further enhancing its efficiency in preparedness and response to disease threats. It operates on five strategic pillars: strengthened public health institutions; strengthened public health workforce; expanded manufacturing of vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics; increased domestic resources for health security; and respectful and action-oriented partnerships. This is all geared towards achieving Africa’s development ambitions as outlined in Agenda 2063.
“Africa CDC’s strategic plan 2023-2027 is ambitious, aiming to achieve significant outcomes for the continent. The Africa Public Health Foundation is pivotal in facilitating resource mobilisation for Africa CDC, enhancing public health systems across African Union Member States, and supporting the implementation of The New Public Health Order,” stated Dr. Kaseya.
Dr. Bernard Haufiku, APHF Governing Council Chair and Founder, described as special the day of the signing of the agreement.
“Our strategic partnership has benefited the continent through resource mobilisation to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ebola, Marburg, and Cholera outbreaks, and related interventions. I am grateful to Africa CDC for the support over the years since we started working in 2020 and the great work we have done together,” he said.
