Africa Public Health Foundation

Our Director General Dr Jean Kaseya and the Africa CDC Responders Team met with Rwanda's Minister of Health, Dr Sabin Nsanzimana, to strengthen efforts in containing the #Marburg and #Mpox outbreaks. Since the outbreak was declared on September 27, 2024, Africa CDC Senior Response Leaders have been on the ground in Kigali, supporting surveillance, lab testing, and research. Together with Rwanda and partners, we are driving coordinated action to end these outbreaks and protect lives across the continent. #HealthSecurity

One of the most pressing issues in grants management is the complexity of administrative processes. Each donor has unique reporting requirements, timelines, and compliance regulations. Africa Public Health Foundation (APHF) plays a crucial role by standardizing and streamlining these processes. By developing a framework for reporting and compliance, APHF reduces the administrative burden on Africa CDC, allowing it to focus more on its core mission of improving public health outcomes. Our Grants management lead, CPA Victor Kubende, shares more insight about this. Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/exSHXdZs

We are hiring for an Operations Intern! The Operations Intern will aid the organization’s operations team, with the lead/supervisor detailing the role’s outcomes and tasks to align with broader operational goals of APHF. The intern will receive guidance and training to enhance operational processes and contribute effectively to the team’s success. Are you interested or know someone who is? For more information and to apply, please use this link: https://lnkd.in/dNfVXSZ2 You can also read about the experience from the previous intern in that position John Brian Nyangi https://lnkd.in/e8qtvA3H

The Africa CDC Regional Collaboration Centre for Eastern Africa team, led by Regional Director Dr Mazyanga Lucy MAZABA (third from right) visited our offices and had a fruitful meeting with our Interim CEO, Dr. Francisco Songane (second from right) Stephen Kimani (Operations Lead) and Judy Mbowa (Resource Mobilisation Officer). Dr. Mazyanga, who recently took up her role as Regional Director was acquainting herself with what APHF does as a fundraising and grants management arm for Africa CDC. We look forward to more collaboration with RCC Eastern Africa.

Africa CDC in collaboration with Africa Public Health Foundation and African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) last week commenced the AMR genomics and bioinformatics training course to strengthen national genomic surveillance of AMR, focusing on Klebsiella pneumoniae, hosted at the state-of-the-art facility of South African National Bioinformatics Institute (SANBI), Capetown South Africa. Eighteen scientists participated in this course from nine African Union Member States (Cameroon, Chad, DRC, Ethiopia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Uganda, and Zimbabwe). This course funded by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation CholGen project supports workforce development in space of AMR genomics and bioinformatics.

Africa CDC in collaboration with Africa Public Health Foundation have today finalised a three day workshop that was being conducted on strengthening information sharing, communication, and collaboration between Africa CDC and member states in West Africa through the Regional Integrated Surveillance and Laboratory Network (RISLNET). The training held in Abuja, Nigeria saw participants who are surveillance officers in the West Africa region get impactful information in reporting of outbreak events and also provided an avenue for discussion and to charter a new course for the detection reporting, and enhanced response to disease outbreaks in the region.

Our second edition of the APHF Digest, the Africa Public Health Foundation external newsletter is out! This issue of the Digest comes at a particular time, when we are again facing another emergency, the Mpox Outbreak, already declared a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) by Africa CDC, and a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by World Health Organization. It is not surprising, and in fact as we were winding up from the emergency mode when the COVID-19 pandemic was declared over, there was unanimity that it was not the last one, and we should focus on preparedness and response capabilities intertwined with the overall efforts of reinforcing the health systems. In this issue we also look at what is being done around Cholera Genomics through Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation funding support among other impact stories. Enjoy the reading. Dr. Bernard Haufiku, Dr. Jean Kaseya, Dr. Ngashi Ngongo, Amb. Dennis Awori, Steffi Barandereka Nineza, @Edem Adzogenu, Alain Ah-Sue, Dr Amit N. Thakker, Dr. Lul Riek, Dr. Herilinda Temba, Dr Mazyanga Lucy MAZABA, Nobel CUBAHIRO, NGUEDIA Vanessa

Africa CDC and World Health Organization have launched the Mpox Continental Preparedness and Response Plan for Africa. On August 13, 2024, the Africa CDC declared the Mpox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS). The following day, the World Health Organization declared it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). A coordinated, continent-wide response is essential, co-led by the African Union (AU) through the Africa CDC and the WHO, in close collaboration with global partners working under a unified plan, budget, and monitoring framework. Excluding the cost of vaccines which depends on the negotiation with manufacturers and donated in-kind, the estimated budget for the six months from September 2024 to February 2025 is US$ 599,153,498.00. Of this, 55% (US$329,311,463.00) is allocated for Mpox response in 13 affected member states and readiness in 15 others, while 45% (US$269,842,035.00) is earmarked for operational and technical support through partners. This funding is vital for addressing immediate response needs, closing capability gaps, and ensuring the sustained management of Mpox throughout the continent. Dr. Bernard Haufiku, Dr. Jean Kaseya, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, Amb. Dennis Awori, Steffi Barandereka Nineza Alain Ah-Sue Dr. @Edem Adzogenu, Dr. Lul Riek, Dr. Benjamin DJOUDALBAYE, Dr. Herilinda Temba, Dr Mazyanga Lucy MAZABA, Dr. Dr Amit N. Thakker, Nobel CUBAHIRO, NGUEDIA Vanessa

🚨 Africa CDC, in partnership with #HERA and Bavarian Nordic, has achieved a historic milestone for public health in Africa 🇨🇩. The Democratic Republic of Congo has received its first shipment of #Mpox vaccines, with nearly 100,000 doses now in hand. This pivotal moment represents a major leap forward in the fight against Mpox and the strengthening of health security across Africa. “By the end of this week, 200,000 doses will be available in the DRC,” stated H.E. Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, underscoring the power of this critical partnership. Since early 2024, the DRC has reported over 4,900 confirmed Mpox cases and more than 620 deaths. The deployment of these vaccines marks a decisive step in safeguarding our health workers and protecting vulnerable populations. READ MORE - https://lnkd.in/dea6fg8C #PublicHealth #Vaccination #HealthSecurity #Mpox #AfricaCDC

Africa CDC Western Africa Regional Coordinating Centre supported by Africa Public Health Foundation convened Regional Public Health Stakeholders Forum from the 29th to 30th August 2024. The forum aims to sensitize regional stakeholders on Africa CDC's strategic direction and as well as foster impactful collaborations within the West Africa region. The forum's primary objectives include introducing Africa CDC's mandates and the role of Regional Coordinating Centers (RCCs), sharing successes and priorities specific to West Africa, and gathering input from stakeholders to enhance collaboration, coordination, cooperation, and communication.  This important forum was officially opened by the Dr. Raji Tajudeen, the Acting Deputy Director General of Africa CDC. In welcoming the participants to the forum the Acting Regional Director, Dr Herilinda Temba emphasized the forum will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to meet and discuss on health issues in the region and map out the way forward. By the end of the meeting, it is expected that participants will have an increased understanding of the Africa CDC Strategic Plan (2023-2027), the organization’s mandate in member states, and the key areas of intervention for health security in the region. Additionally, the meeting aims to identify priority areas for regional cooperation to minimize duplication and explore opportunities to support future global health initiatives aligned with the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) goals outlined in the Lusaka Agenda. Overall, a total of 60 participants attended the forum physically while 38 attended virtually.