Experts in the medical arena have highlighted that African researchers are needed to use their knowledge in carrying out studies with specificity on the continent’s health challenges and tailored solutions.
This was shared during a media briefing on December 12, which preceded the kick-off of International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA) 2022 slated for December 13.
Organised by the African Union and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the meeting brings together health experts, researchers, government officials, and policymakers to discuss health challenges the continent faces and chart a way forward for resilient continental health systems.
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Agnes Binagwaho, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Global Health Equity and Co-Chair of CPHIA, said areas of discussion will include finding ways of bridging what the continent is capable of and what it needs.
"Africa has understood that we need to go for researches that matter to us, not the research by somebody in New York, Paris, or elsewhere who is interested in Africa, and this will impact the way we educate our students.”
She gave an example when Rwanda had paid upfront for Covid-19 vaccine procurement but was only served after rich countries had received the vaccines, "This proved that Africa needs to take its future in health sector in its own hands.”
Rwanda is the host country for Africa Medicines Agency, a Pan-African initiative that seeks to advance medical manufacturing capacity on the continent and harmonization of medical products regulation.
Also read: Kagame hails progress of Africa’s medicines agency
Ahmed Ogwell Ouma, Acting Director of Africa CDC, stated: "We must build our confidence as professionals in Africa that we can come together to talk about our challenges, propose solutions and go back to implement them.”
He said that this will get the continent closer to achieving the New Public Health Order which calls for continental collaboration to bolster African manufacturing capacity for vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics; strengthen public health institutions for people-centered care, expand the public health workforce, establish respectful, action-oriented partnerships, and engage with the private sector.
Dr. Yvan Butera, State Minister in the Ministry of Health, said that this conference provides a platform for knowledge and skills sharing aimed at building resilient health systems.
"Our health institutions shouldn’t be shaken in the face of outbreaks but must have the capacity to effectively mitigate or respond to them. We believe that from this conference, we will derive actionable steps to help nations and the continent at large,” he added.
Responding to health threats
Ouma said there are at least 109 public health threats in Africa at the moment but those of concern are about 21, and Africa CDC actively is engaging in responding to six of them.
"The problem is not the circulation of the virus but what we do ourselves in response to that particular outbreak. When you strengthen the health system, it can be able to respond to whatever comes,” he cited.
This, according to him, should base on training a standby force of health workers who can move from health service –without consequences –to respond to outbreaks.