AMREF’s Post

Help me understand : Why are most of international donors overlooking the local needs of LMICs and not increasing the financing of NCD local initiatives to address this crisis ❓ 🌍 Despite being the leading cause of global mortality, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) receive less than 2% of all official development assistance for health. World Health Organization has the data: over 80% of premature deaths from NCDs occur in LMICs, perpetuating a cycle of disease, disability, and death among the most vulnerable populations. ⏳ It's time to bridge the gap between international development priorities and local needs. See the graphic below from Rwanda: the shift towards allocating more resources to combat NCDs is becoming increasingly vital as life expectancy increases, considering the threat they pose today compared to communicable diseases. Join me and Dr. Githinji Gitahi (AMREF) Sania Nishtar (Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance), Mohamed Abdulazit, (Africa CDC), Klaus Dr. Schlueter, (MSD), Suzanne Silantoi. L, (Nairobi City County) and others TBC during the World Health Assembly, to bring attention to the need for the global community to listen and balance the investment towards where is needed. Register➡️ https://lnkd.in/dMPN69cY #WHA77

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) kill more than 41 million people every year, accounting for 71% of all deaths globally. The prevalence of NCDs is estimated to be higher than that of infectious diseases in Africa by 2030.  What does this mean for focus and funding of NCDs in Africa? I believe the time is now for us to shift attention to NCDs before they become the next pandemic.

Great News 🔈 UNICEF, Africa CDC, WHO, and Gavi are joining forces to combat the mpox outbreak in Africa. In a critical step, UNICEF has launched an emergency initiative to procure up to 12 million vaccine doses by 2025, with a focus on regions most severely impacted, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo. This coordinated effort aims to curb the spread of mpox and provide vital support to populations at high risk, underscoring the importance of international cooperation in addressing public health crises in Africa. #drugdevelopment #clinicaltrials #research #clinicalresearch

Vaccine hesitancy is the delay in accepting or refusing #vaccines despite the availability of vaccination services. It is a complex and context-specific issue that varies across time, place, and vaccines. ❗ Factors contributing to vaccine hesitancy include: ➡ Confidence: Lack of #trust in vaccines or the healthcare system. ➡ Complacency: #Perception that the risks of vaccine-preventable diseases are low, leading to a reduced perceived need for vaccination. ➡ Convenience: #Barriers related to the availability, accessibility, and affordability of vaccination services. Addressing #vaccinehesitancy requires understanding these factors and implementing tailored interventions to #buildtrust, increase awareness of #vaccinebenefits, and make vaccination services more #accessible and #convenient. This ⬇ online seminar, which will be held on Wednesday, July 10th, at 2 PM CET, is an excellent learning opportunity on strategies to promote vaccine acceptance in the African context.

Greetings from Oslo at the DHIS2 Annual Conference live! 😊 Streaming online😁. Day 2!! The DHIS2 Annual Conference has been nothing short of extraordinary. The advancements in data innovation presented here signify a transformative leap forward for health initiatives in Africa. Attending the different sessions has been truly inspiring, showcasing how the DHIS2 data reporting system is being utilized to address critical health challenges such as malaria, tuberculosis, and other prevalent diseases in the region. I believe the use of DHIS2 in tackling health issues is a testament to the power of data-driven decision-making. By harnessing accurate and timely data, we can develop targeted interventions that significantly improve health outcomes. This is indeed an exciting time to witness such impactful progress. I am optimistic about the future and look forward to attending the next conference in person in Oslo. This conference has definitely reinforced the importance of innovation and collaboration in driving positive change in public health. Do you use DHIS2? If so, I would love to hear how you have leveraged it to address health challenges in your community. #DAC2024

In seven days, African Constituency Bureau for the Global Fund with its partners World Health Organization Afro, The Global Fund, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, African Union, Africa CDC, Wellcome Trust and The Global Financing Facility (GFF) will kick off the "Technical consultation on advancing African leadership and unified voice in Global Health Initiatives (GHIs)". This meeting will strategize Africa's unified engagement with GHIs, focusing on resilient health systems and Universal Health Coverage. Participants will include representatives from GHIs, Ministries of Health, civil society, and other key stakeholders. Together, we aim to enhance collaboration and address Africa's health challenges effectively. Together, we can enhance collaboration and synergy among stakeholders, fostering a coordinated approach to addressing Africa's health challenges and priorities. 

In case you missed it, here's the STEP 2.0 impact brief for 2023. Learn about the year's programmes, institutionalisation and what's in the pipeline.

Continue from last post👇 This SPRP provides that plan, based on the principles of equity, global solidarity, community empowerment, human rights, and coordination across sectors.” WHO headquarters and regional offices have established incident management support teams to lead preparedness, readiness and response activities, and are significantly scaling up staff in affected countries. Within the Africa Region, where need is greatest, the WHO Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) in collaboration with Africa CDC, will jointly spearhead the coordination of mpox response efforts. WHO AFRO and Africa CDC have agreed on a one-plan, one-budget approach as part of the Africa Continental Mpox Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan, currently under preparation. At the national and sub-national level, health authorities will adapt strategies in response to current epidemiological trends. Additional links: Mpox situation reports can be found in the following link: WHO - Emergency situation reports The latest situation report published provides details on the latest epidemiological trends, including an update on the geographic expansion of mpox in the WHO African Region from July – August 2024. 2022-24 Mpox (Monkeypox) Outbreak: Global Trends: https://lnkd.in/dMsA44xK https://lnkd.in/dWsiZnRx Weekly Epidemiological Record with mpox vaccine position paper: WER9934-eng-fre.pdf (who.int) Access to photos: A gallery of selected images for media: WHO headquarters photo library - Gallery - Mpox (for media). Media who are not yet registered with the WHO photo library need to register once for access to WHO media images. For any questions on photo access please email photos@who.int

The STEP 2.0 impact brief for 2023 is available. Learn about the year's programmes, institutionalisation and what's in the pipeline.

Dr. Faustine Ndugulile ’s vision, experience, and strategic approach make him a strong candidate for WHO Africa Director. Effective health sector transformation today relies heavily on digital health interventions, which enhance access, efficiency, data-driven decisions, patient empowerment, cost reduction, and rapid emergency responses. These technologies are vital for modernizing healthcare systems and advancing health and wellbeing across Africa.