| Mpox Response Plan Envisions Support Across 22 Countries |
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The Africa Mpox response plan envisages a budget of US$600 million for the six months from September 2024 to February 2025, with 55 percent being allocated to Mpox response and readiness in 28 countries and 45 percent to operational support.
Since 13 August 2024, when Africa CDC declared Mpox a medical emergency of continental significance, the agency has been fully engaged in supporting countries battling the disease. |
| | | Antimicrobial Resistance: New Report Warns of Growing Threat |
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| | A new report by Africa CDC warns that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is becoming a more significant threat to Africa than HIV-AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, with children and vulnerable groups most at risk. These three diseases combined now account for fewer deaths than AMR, which has a mortality rate of 27.3 deaths per 100,000 people, making it the highest in the world.
Released ahead of the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on AMR in New York in September 2024, the report highlights the need for global stakeholders to address the escalating crisis. The meeting is expected to serve as a platform to make commitments and coordinate a global response. One urgent priority is mobilising resources to develop national action plans, particularly in countries lacking them. |
| | | Somalia's Lab Plan Prioritizes Better Diagnostics and Supplies |
| | Somalia's first-ever laboratory strategic plan is expected to pave way for the development of a framework for the country's lab services. Teams from Africa CDC and Somalia's Federal Ministry of Health met in Nairobi from 5-9 August to finalise inputs and shape the plan.
Laboratories play a vital role in the health sector, serving as the backbone for disease diagnosis, surveillance and outbreak response, said Donewell Bangure, Principal Technical Officer at Africa CDC. |
| | | South Sudan’s Mpox Readiness Assessed Amid Raging Outbreak |
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| | In the wake of the current Mpox outbreak that has spread across 13 countries and led to over 18,000 cases in Africa in 2024, a delegation from Africa CDC visited South Sudan to assess its preparedness and response capabilities.
The outbreak has affected four of South Sudan’s neighbours—Kenya, Uganda, Central African Republic (CAR), and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). On its own, the DRC has reported over 14,000 cases, accounting for 96% of confirmed cases in August. |
| | | Public Health Emergency Management Curriculum Review Signals Start of Second Cohort of Fellows |
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The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) recently hosted a curriculum review workshop in Nairobi, Kenya, as it gears up for the registration of the second cohort of its Public Health Emergency Management (PHEM) Fellowship. Launched in 2023, the PHEM Fellowship is a flagship program designed to build a skilled and resilient African public health workforce capable of leading preparedness, response, and recovery efforts during public health emergencies.
Aligned with Africa CDC’s Strategic Plan (2023-2027), the fellowship plays a crucial role in strengthening public health institutions and enhancing emergency preparedness across the African Union Member States. The fellowship supports the New Public Health Order, empowering mid-career public health professionals with the tools and knowledge required to tackle public health challenges and manage high-burden diseases. |
| | | | Africa’s Health Workforce Compact Takes Shape |
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Africa’s health leaders have taken a step to design a robust model for a central mechanism for the training and deploying of health workers on the continent.
“This is an agenda that enjoys a lot of support particularly from the heads of state,” said Dr. Raji Tajudeen, the acting Deputy Director General of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the Head of Public Health Institutes and Research, officially opening the conference. |
| | | | | 9 August 2024, Briefing with H.E. Cheikh Ghazouani, President of Mauritania, current Chairperson of the African Union, on the concerning evolution of the mpox epidemic and the significant threat it poses to all regions of Africa.
16 August 2024 Meeting with H.E João Lourenço, President of Angola who was also the then Chairman of the SADC to discuss the issue of the mpox epidemic in Africa. H.E. Dr Kaseya briefed President Lourenço on the situation that led to the declaration of mpox as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS). |
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| 17 August 2024 H.E. Dr Jean Kaseya expressed gratitude for the strong support from Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Heads of State and Government at the 44th Summit in Harare. The leaders endorsed the Africa CDC’s leadership in combating multiple outbreaks including mpox. A proposal for a Continental summit of Heads of State was endorsed, marking a critical step in the collective fight against mpox.
18 August 2024, Meeting with Congo's PM H.E. Makosso Anatole to discuss the mpox response with Africa CDC. The Congolese government's efforts are commendable. Grateful for the PM's commitment to our joint fight against mpox in Africa. |
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| 21 August 2024 Discussion with the Prime Minister of DRC, Suminwa Judith, on the mpox epidemic in Africa, on the upcoming arrival of vaccines on the continent.
23 August 2024 H.E. Dr Jean Kaseya led Africa CDC delegation to meet H.E. Felix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, to discuss the Mpox outbreak in Africa and the Africa CDC continental response strategy. Dr Kaseya thanked the government of DRC for its commitment to mobilize $10 million to support ongoing efforts.
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| 28 August 2024 H.E. Dr Jean Kaseya, Africa CDC Director General, had a productive meeting with French Minister of State for Development, Francophonie, and International Partnerships. He expressed gratitude with the French Government's support in tackling the ongoing mpox outbreak. France is providing 100,000 doses of mpox vaccine to Africa through the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority.
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| | Training to Boost Response Capacity Among Lab Technicians |
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| | For six days, 24 laboratory specialists from 11 African countries convened in Kenya for an intensive training session in sample management.
Organised by Africa CDC with support from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), the training was meant to enhance the technicians’ skills in managing and transporting biological specimens—an essential component in effective disease surveillance and outbreak response. International partnerships in public health from institutions such as KDCA support access to diagnostics and vaccines, along with boosting health security in Africa. |
| | | | | | | | | Media is a Desired Partner in Managing Health Crises |
| | African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) hopes its vigilance over the health welfare of Africa will be further developed as it engages with the members of the fourth estate while it fights outbreaks and health challenges in member states.
The WHO and Africa CDC declared an international health emergency after a rise in cases associated with a new strain of mpox in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in early August. This declaration marked an important achievement, for Africa CDC, while addressing the crisis through a new public health order. |
| | | | | Sept. 2024 (weekly) Online Press Briefings on Mpox
09-20 Sept. 2024 Cape Town, South Africa Advanced course on bioinformatics and data analytics for AMR in SANBI
9-20 Sept. 2024 Integrated Genomics Surveillance for Outbreak Detection
12-13 Sept. 2024 Nairobi, Kenya The Eastern Africa RISLNET- Cholera Taskforce (EATFCC) Workshop to Develop Regional Biennial Operational Plan |
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| 12-13th Sept. 2024, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Ministerial Briefing for the Ministerial Executive Leadership Programme (MELP) Legacy Initiative Co-Creation Meeting
17-18 Sept. 2024 Africa CDC Headquarters, Addis Ababa Continental Standardization of the Advanced FETP Curriculum Workshop
20-23 Sept. 2024 Cape Town, South Africa World One Health Congress |
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| 22 Sept. 2024 5-7 PM (EST) AMR: Ensuring Sustainable Access to Effective Antibiotics! Side Event-United Nations General Assembly 2024
22-24 Sept. 2024 Algiers, Algeria Africa CDC Saving Lives and Livelihoods Microplanning workshop for Northern Africa Region |
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| 23-27 Sept. 2024 Accra, Ghana Diagnostics Advisory Committee (DAC) and African Medical Device Forum (AMDF) meeting with National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) of West Africa
24-27 Sept. 2024 Cape Town, South Africa World Congress of Epidemiology 2024
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| | | Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Ring Road, 16/17, Haile Garment Square, P.O. Box 3243, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Tel: +251 (0) 11 551 77 00, Fax:+251 (0) 11 551 78 44 Email: communications@africacdc.org
Africa CDC is a continental autonomous health agency of the African Union established to support public health initiatives of Member States and strengthen the capacity of their public health institutions to detect, prevent, control and respond quickly and effectively to disease threats.
Safeguarding Africa’s Health |
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