African leaders, leading scientists, researchers, and innovators have proffered strategic measures to reposition Africa in the global health architecture.
The stakeholders analysed measures to forge a new public
health order for Africa, beyond the traditional healthcare models
They spoke at the 2023 Conference on Public Health in Africa
in Lusaka, Zambia with the theme “Breaking Barriers: Repositioning Africa in
the Global Health Architecture.”
The four-day conference taking place from November 27-30
will spotlight cutting-edge research and innovations, and present African-led
solutions to public health challenges.
The theme of this year’s conference, according to the Africa
Centres for Disease Control and Prevention underscores a fundamental truth that
health is not only a matter of medical science but also of policy, equity, and
global cooperation.
The Director-General of the Africa CDC, Dr Jean Kaseya said,
breaking barriers requires us to think beyond the confines of traditional
healthcare models.
“It beckons us to harness technology’s power, embrace equity
and social justice principles, and foster robust collaborations that span
borders and disciplines. It demands a concerted effort to amplify the voices of
the most vulnerable among us.
“It challenges us to look at the barriers that have long
impeded Africa’s progress in public health and calls upon us to redefine our
position in the global health architecture.
“Together, we can break, and we will break the barriers that
have hindered our progress for far too long and we can forge a new public
health order for Africa—one that is resilient, equitable, and capable of
meeting the challenges of the future,” Dr Kaseya said.
Kaseya added that community, connectivity, capacity,
collaboration, and climate are five important principles that can guide leaders
in repositioning Africa in the global health architecture.
“Communities are the foundation upon which a healthier
Africa will be built. It is disturbing to note that 38 out of the 40 countries
with the highest maternal mortality rates are in Africa. This highlights the
pressing need to strengthen the resilience of our communities.
“To achieve that, we need to manage the looming crisis with a huge gap of community health workers that Africa is facing. This gap may worsen if the existing community health workers continue to go unpaid and encounter a lack of standardisation,” he said.
The DG said Africa records two new outbreaks per week, totalling more than 100 outbreaks per year, and 75 per cent of the outbreaks are zoonotic in origin and worsened by climate change.”
He stressed that the Africa CDC is committed to supporting
African countries to adopt a comprehensive One-health approach to tackle these
climate-related challenges.
He said connectivity will enable Africa to bridge
geographical gaps, create a network of knowledge and information exchange, and
address public health challenges with better efficiency and effectiveness.
He stated that less than 10 per cent of African countries
can respond to a major outbreak with a skilled health workforce. Hence, the a
need to strengthen Africa’s medical manufacturing capabilities to enhance
self-reliance and reduce vulnerability to supply disruptions.
“We have a great opportunity in our hands – to chart a new
course, create health systems capable of withstanding the inevitable shocks,
and reposition the continent in the global health architecture,” he added.
Also speaking at the event, the Director General of the
World Health Organisation, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus said he is confident the
Africa region will play a pivotal role in the future of humanity’s health over
the next century.
Dr Ghebreyesus said the region can break barriers in global
health but that political will is required to achieve it.
On his part, the President of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema,
said the role of collaboration in building a resilient public health system
cannot be overemphasised.
Mr Hichilema said African leaders must develop the habit of
collaboration and partnerships to ensure the continent becomes a force to be
reckoned with.
“The conference is unique because it talks about health from
a holistic point. Health for one, health for families, health for countries,
and health for all,” he said.
The CPHIA 2023 Co-Chair and Director of the Institute of
Health Research, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Prof Margaret
Gyapong said Africa is witnessing an unprecedented leap in health technology
innovations.
“From mobile health applications that provide remote
consultations and health information, to telemedicine platforms connecting
patients with specialized care, technology is bridging the gaps in healthcare
access and delivery.
“The Digital Disease Surveillance piloted by Africa CDC in
six countries is developing digital surveillance indicators and online disease
dashboards based on social media and search engines to inform infectious
disease surveillance on the continent, strengthen real-time surveillance of
infectious diseases, guide interventions, and build capacity in big data
approaches for outbreak prediction, analysis, and prevention,” she said.
To maximise the impact of these innovations, Prof Gyapong
said, there must be concerted efforts to scale up successful interventions
across the continent. Sharing best practices, replicating successful models,
and fostering collaboration is key to ensuring widespread access to these
life-saving innovations.