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IOL News
6 days ago
- Health
- IOL News
Cape Town launches new phase of the Genomic Surveillance Project
The launch event at the CERI Headquarters on Stellenbosch University's Tygerberg Campus included a tour of laboratories, a panel discussion and a grant award ceremony attended by senior officials and dignitaries. Image: Stellenbosch University Cape Town witnessed a significant step forward in public health as the new phase of the Genomic Surveillance Project was officially launched. A collaboration between the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI) at Stellenbosch University and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), this initiative aims to upscale the monitoring and analysis of genetic information from pathogens that pose a threat to public health. The project is part of the GIZ SAVax Programme, co-funded by the German Government, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and the European Union (EU). The launch represents a concerted effort to strengthen local vaccine and pharmaceutical manufacturing in Africa, contributing to the Team Europe Initiative on manufacturing and access to vaccines, medicines, and health technologies (MAV+). The enhanced funding of R9 million marks an important milestone, bringing the total investment in this partnership to R12 million. This investment will bolster genomics surveillance, particularly targeting important pathogens, including respiratory threats such as Avian Influenza H5N1 and emerging coronaviruses. "This partnership exemplifies how science, government, and international cooperation can come together to strengthen public health systems and respond more effectively to epidemic threats,' said Professor Tulio de Oliveira, Director of CERI. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The new phase of the Genomic Surveillance Project will build on existing progress with additional funding of R9 million, bringing total investment in the partnership to R12 million. Image: Stellenbosch University The launch event at the CERI Headquarters on Stellenbosch University's Tygerberg Campus featured a tour of laboratories, a panel discussion, and a grant award ceremony attended by senior officials and dignitaries. Mr. Fulgencio Garrido Ruiz, EU Deputy Ambassador to South Africa, expressed the importance of this collaboration: 'We are delighted to expand the collaboration with South Africa, especially as it plays a strategic role within the Team Europe Initiative MAV+.' The EU's MAV+ initiative has mobilised significant resources, including over €700 million for pandemic preparedness across the region, with €10 million directed specifically towards research infrastructure in South Africa. Garrido underlined the vision of enhancing self-sufficiency through local research frameworks to empower nations to independently tackle health crises. The emphasis on the collaborative aspect of health security was echoed by Sven Hartwig, Deputy Consul General of the German Consulate General, who stated, 'This launch highlights that surveillance for pandemic preparedness relies on partnership and collaboration between the public and private sectors, academia, and civil society.' Dr. Anban Pillay from the National Department of Health highlighted the cultural shift towards cooperation fostered by CERI and Stellenbosch University. Claudia Aguirre, head of the GIZ SAVax programme, remarked on the programme's role in bolstering capacity building and supporting African scientists in finding solutions tailored to the continent's unique health challenges. In the first phase of the CERI project, running from 2023-2024, over 1,000 pathogen genomes were sequenced, and more than 50 African scientists trained in genomic techniques. The second phase (2025-2026) will expand genomic surveillance efforts and promote the integration of data crucial for shaping public health policies. As South Africa takes on a pivotal role in global biosecurity, it becomes the second Southern Hemisphere nation, post-Australia, to provide real-time genomic tracking for winter disease pathogens Additionally, the project aims to strengthen laboratory infrastructure in under-resourced provinces while focusing on developing the careers of scientists from Historically Disadvantaged Universities.
Zawya
19-03-2025
- Health
- Zawya
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) discuss deeper collaboration for global health security
ECDC Director Dr. Pamela Rendi-Wagner and H.E. Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention met at ECDC's offices in Stockholm to discuss deepening collaboration between the two CDCs. The meeting was an opportunity for ECDC and Africa CDC to take stock of ongoing areas of cooperation and look ahead to future efforts to enhance African, European and global health security. Since 2021, both agencies partner on a project, funded by the European Commission, to contribute to health security in Africa and globally by strengthening emergency preparedness and response, surveillance, epidemic intelligence, and workforce capacity-building. 'Close cooperation between ECDC and Africa CDC is essential for global health security. I look forward to even deeper collaboration moving forward and to working together towards global health security preparedness and response to confront future health threats. This work has already begun though ECDC's contributions to Africa CDC led outbreak responses through our EU Health Task Force,' said Dr. Pamela Rendi-Wagner, Director of ECDC. In recognition of the evolving health threat landscape, Africa CDC and ECDC will collaborate on One Health workforce development through a Team Europe Initiative. Adopting a One Health approach is essential to combatting the silent pandemic of antimicrobial resistance – a significant threat to health and the functioning of health services on both continents. 'Africa CDC values its strong collaboration with ECDC in advancing global health security. Through the Africa CDC–ECDC Partnership, we committed to strengthen Africa's emergency preparedness, disease surveillance, and public health workforce. This visit reaffirms our commitment to expanding joint training, epidemic intelligence, and technical exchanges to equip our Member States with the needed support to tackle emerging health threats. Under the Africa-EU Global Gateway Partnership on Health, we remain dedicated to sustainability, innovation, and co-creating solutions for a healthier Africa and beyond,' said H.E. Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General, Africa CDC. ECDC's strengthened mandate has enabled the Agency to expand its international cooperation. The establishment of the EU Health Task Force has meant ECDC experts deployed in Africa ten times in 2024 to support local outbreak responses to mpox, Marburg and cholera. In addition to their shared commitment to global health security and future technical collaboration, discussions focussed on outbreaks on the African continent as well as the concrete actions they are both taking to rebuild public trust in health authorities following the COVID-19 pandemic. ECDC collaborates with centres for disease control beyond the EU at both regional and national levels as part of its long-term strategy to enhance international cooperation and coordination in addressing cross-border health threats. ECDC collaborates with the African, Caribbean, and Gulf supranational CDCs and has previously signed memoranda of understanding or administrative agreements with national centres around the world. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
