New Roadmap to Strengthen Health Security in Central Africa
Central Africa, like the rest of the continent, is deeply affected by recurrent or prolonged health crises, with the emergence and re-emergence of infectious threats. These threats challenge the resilience of healthcare systems and underline the need for an integrated, multi-sectoral and proactive approach. These public health emergencies are a powerful reminder that no country can effectively and sustainably deal with cross-border health threats on its own.
'This joint planning process is much more than a technical exercise. It is a key moment to strengthen our regional public health architecture, foster the interoperability of our alert systems, promote data sharing and expertise, and facilitate more effective mobilisation of available resources,' said Dr Brice Wilfried Bicaba, Director of Africa CDC's Regional Coordinating Centre for Central Africa (CA RCC).
Africa CDC, through its CA RCC, brought together technical and institutional representatives from regional bodies including the Commission of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and the Organisation for Coordination in the Fight Against Endemic Diseases in Central Africa (OCEAC) of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC), from 16 to 18 June 2025 in Equatorial Guinea.
The inaugural strategic joint planning workshop was aimed at strengthening collaboration and coordination between Africa CDC, Regional Economic Communities and health institutions to improve prevention, preparedness and response to health emergencies in Central Africa. Africa CDC and its partners also came up with a consolidated 2025 plan.
'The 2025 joint action plan will serve as an operational guide for the coming months, focusing on concrete actions to strengthen regional coordination and governance, reinforce integrated health systems and the control of high-burden diseases, enhance surveillance, data collection and early warning, as well as build national capacity in terms of networks and laboratory systems,' added Dr Bicaba.
The joint roadmap 2026–2027 lays the foundations for a structured response that is more effective, efficient, sustainable and aligned with continental and regional frameworks such as the New Public Health Order for Africa, the Africa CDC Strategic Plan 2023–2027, the Regional Strategic Plans for Preparedness and Response to Public Health Emergencies, cross-border surveillance of diseases with epidemic potential under the 'One Health' approach, and the ECCAS 'One Health' Platform for the period 2025–2029, as well as the 2023–2027 Five-Year Strategic Plan of the OCEAC.
'This roadmap reflects our collective commitment to building a community that is better prepared, more resilient and more responsive to health threats. Coordination with Africa CDC and other regional health organisations is essential if we are to achieve genuine health security in Central Africa,' said Dr Peggy Raymonde Conjugo-Batoma, Head of the Health Department of the Commission of ECCAS.
The various stakeholders have also defined a coordination and monitoring framework for the joint implementation of health initiatives in the Central African region over the period 2025–2027. The main aim of this framework is to establish an effective coordination and accountability mechanism for the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of joint regional health security activities in Central Africa, while ensuring optimum synergy between the key players.
'I welcome this initiative, which strengthens regional solidarity around our shared priorities,' said Mr Mitoha Ondo'o Ayekaba, Equatorial Guinea's Minister of Health. 'The results of your work reflect not only the richness of your contributions but also the collective commitment and strong desire to face cross-border health threats together. They are also an illustration of strengthened regional cooperation between national institutions, regional economic communities and technical partners in the interests of our populations,' said Mr Ayekaba, who is also a member of the steering committee of the Central African RCC.
'I am personally committed to overseeing the implementation of the joint roadmap and to advocating vigorously with my colleagues to secure the necessary political support,' he said.
This inaugural workshop has been hailed by the Minister of Health and Africa CDC's partners as a model of multi-sector collaboration, mobilising the technical expertise, political priorities and resources of the various stakeholders around a common vision.
'It marks an important step in Africa CDC's ambition to build a more robust, integrated and inclusive continental public health system that is better prepared to deal with future health emergencies,' said Dr Bicaba.
The representatives present in Malabo also recommended co-developing collaboration protocols between the various institutions, integrating Africa CDC's Regional Coordinating Centre for Central Africa as an observer or technical member at decision-making and technical meetings of the RECs relating to public health, health emergency management and health security, and strengthening the capacities of Member States in health planning and coordination.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
3 days ago
- Zawya
Hamdan bin Mohammed launches ‘Dubai Mallathon' to transform shopping malls into fitness hubs
H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, today launched Dubai Mallathon, a community-driven initiative aimed at promoting public health by encouraging all members of society to engage in daily physical activity during the summer. The initiative is set to transform shopping malls across Dubai into organised health and fitness tracks during morning hours, from 7:00 to 10:00 a.m., from 1 to 31 August. As part of the initiative, dedicated walking and running tracks will be introduced in seven of Dubai's major shopping destinations, including Dubai Mall, Dubai Hills Mall, Springs Souk, City Centre Deira, City Centre Mirdif, Mall of the Emirates, and Dubai Marina Mall. Dubai Mallathon is aligned with the goals of the Year of Community, the Dubai Social Agenda 33, and Dubai Quality of Life Strategy 33, which aim to provide the highest standards of living, residential services, and cultural and sporting events while celebrating the UAE's cultural, architectural and environmental heritage. H.H. Sheikh Hamdan said Dubai seeks to set new global benchmarks in wellbeing by making fitness an integral part of daily life. Through meaningful initiatives that bring the community together, the city aims to foster a sense of connection, encourage healthier lifestyles, and create a more vibrant, supportive social life, he added. 'With the Dubai Mallathon, we're turning familiar spaces into places that inspire movement, connection, and better habits. 'We want everyone in Dubai to feel they can stay active and energised in welcoming spaces built with their needs in mind. This reflects our broader commitment to placing people and families at the heart of our development plans.' He encouraged the public to take part in the Dubai Mallathon, describing it as a simple and accessible way to embrace healthier habits and engage with the community. 'Every step you take moves us closer towards a healthier Dubai,' he said. 'This is a shared journey. We are all partners in transforming our city into the world's best place to live, work, and visit.' Sponsored by the Ministry of Defence and held in collaboration with the Dubai Sports Council, the Dubai Mallathon initiative targets all segments of society, including youth, senior citizens, residents, children, and shopping mall employees. Designed to foster an active lifestyle in a supportive setting, the initiative incorporates motivational tools such as fitness-tracking systems, health awareness stations, dedicated children's areas, and guided stretching exercises. This community-driven experience not only encourages participation but also raises awareness about the importance of a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. Dubai Mallathon also seeks to make the most of the vast, underutilised indoor spaces in major malls by transforming them into safe and dynamic sporting environments. This approach offers a practical solution to the challenges of summer heat. With air-conditioned spaces and advanced infrastructure, shopping malls provide an ideal setting for exercise, removing the barrier of extreme heat and encouraging residents to maintain their physical fitness year-round. The initiative also features the 'Walk for Better Health' programme, organised by Dubai's Community Development Authority in collaboration with malls in the emirate. Participation in Dubai Mallathon is free of charge and can be completed by registering through the official website: Upon registration, participants will receive a digital card confirming their enrolment in the initiative. Dubai Mallathon also features collaborations with restaurants and retail outlets, which will offer special deals that align with the initiative's goals of promoting a balanced and active lifestyle, encouraging better nutritional choices and supporting individuals in adopting long-term, sustainable healthy habits.
Zawya
4 days ago
- Zawya
EU invests $4.9mln to support Zimbabwe's National Public Health Institute
The European Union (EU) has committed €4.2 million to support the establishment of Zimbabwe's first National Public Health Institute (NPHI), reinforcing its partnership with Zimbabwe in building stronger and more resilient health systems. The four-year EU-funded initiative, implemented with the World Health Organization (WHO), will strengthen Zimbabwe's ability to prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats. Guided by the Africa CDC Framework and aligned with the Global Gateway Health Package launched at the 6th EU–AU Summit, the NPHI will focus on science, evidence generation, and data-driven policy advice rather than direct service delivery. Key priorities for the NPHI include: Developing a national strategy and roadmap for public health; Improving digital health literacy and reducing the public health skills gap; Strengthening disease surveillance and research, particularly for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension and diabetes; Expanding Zimbabwe's participation in regional and international health networks. The establishment process will be highly consultative, bringing together the Ministry of Health and Child Care, universities, research institutes, and other health partners. It will also foster collaboration with African and European public health institutes that have successfully implemented similar models. This support forms part of the Team Europe Initiative on National Public Health Institutes in Sub-Saharan Africa, contributing to Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being). Once operational, the NPHI is expected to become a cornerstone of evidence-based decision-making, improving the health and well-being of Zimbabweans. © Copyright The Zimbabwean. All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
4 days ago
- Zawya
Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Set to Launch Groundbreaking Knowledge Management Portal
A year on, the ongoing mpox outbreak now affects 26 countries across Africa, up from seven initially. Containing the outbreak remains a challenge, complicated by the disease's four clades and several sub-strains, the latest of which was only identified earlier this year. For example, Clade I is typically associated with higher mortality rates and more severe illness compared to Clade II. Clade IIB is sexually transmissible and is driving the outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. Thus, timely and comprehensive knowledge is proving to be essential in identifying and mounting effective responses to the mpox outbreak. A new initiative, soon to be launched by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), is set to enhance the management of knowledge on health issues and emerging diseases like mpox. This marks a significant step in transforming the continent's public health landscape. The knowledge management initiative will ensure that health knowledge is readily available, accessible, and translated into policies and practices to prevent and control diseases and strengthen the health system in Africa. Dr Nebiyu Dereje, Head of Division, Knowledge Management, and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Public Health in Africa (JPHIA), emphasised that the knowledge management system is critical to facilitating health knowledge generation and exchange among AU Member States, ensuring continental health security. He further highlighted that the knowledge management system will facilitate pandemic preparedness and response efforts among Member States. 'Knowledge generated from an outbreak response in a country will critically support the preparedness and response efforts for a similar outbreak in other countries,' said Dr Nebiyu. The much-anticipated Africa Health Knowledge Management Portal has been designed as a dynamic and collaborative platform. It will serve as a central hub for health data, knowledge, research, and policy insights. This will enable Africa CDC, its five Regional Coordinating Centres (RCCs), and African Union (AU) Member States to generate and access knowledge, and to transform resources into policy and public health action. The portal is a flagship component of Africa CDC's broader knowledge management initiative. It aims to close Africa's persistent gap in global knowledge production and usage, currently described as suboptimal, through innovative and scalable solutions. 'This portal is not just a knowledge repository site. It's a smart system built to catalyse evidence-based decision-making, empower national health systems, and boost regional knowledge exchange and cooperation,' said Dr Mosoka Papa Fallah, Acting Director of Science and Innovation at Africa CDC. The knowledge management hub will facilitate the availability of key public health resources, such as data, information, documents, and knowledge relevant to the needs of Member States. It will serve as a one-stop shop through a collaborative approach. The portal incorporates cutting-edge features, including AI-powered systems that enable multilingual translation, intelligent search tools, an interactive chatbot, and real-time document comparison. These are all designed to make public health information easier to find, understand, and act upon. Users, from national policymakers to frontline health workers, will benefit from personalised content recommendations and a mobile-friendly interface that brings knowledge to their fingertips. The portal is set to be established at three levels: continental, regional, and Member State levels. It will be hosted by Africa CDC and will enable knowledge exchange at the continental level across all 55 Member States and other relevant stakeholders. A regional knowledge management portal will be hosted by each RCC. A series of Member State knowledge management portals will be hosted by individual AU Member States. However, the system will be structured to integrate with existing national health information systems, allowing countries to either host their own portals or link directly with the continental platform. Built with support from the Rockefeller Foundation and the Mastercard Foundation, the portal reflects Africa CDC's vision of pivoting its RCCs towards an 'Africa CDC without walls'. This refers to a continent-wide network where knowledge flows freely across borders. Pilot implementation is already underway in some Member States. These pilots showcase how countries can customise the platform to meet local needs while contributing to continental knowledge sharing. Africa CDC will also support Member States in training dedicated knowledge managers, establishing national knowledge management teams, and building governance frameworks that ensure sustainability. What truly sets the portal apart is its commitment to fostering a culture of knowledge sharing. Through innovations such as weekly Knowledge Hours, Knowledge Cafés, and curated Communities of Practice, Africa CDC aims to foster real-time exchange among public health practitioners, policymakers, and researchers. 'The knowledge exists. The challenge has always been access, translation, and application,' said Dr Mosoka. 'With this endeavour, we are bridging that gap.' With Africa being the continent most affected by disease outbreaks and increasing demands on its health system, the knowledge management portal provides a timely and strategic response. It is grounded in digital transformation, local ownership, and collaboration. The portal will play a crucial role in supporting AU Member States as they strengthen health systems, respond to emergencies, and align with Africa CDC's New Public Health Order. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
