Weeks ago, I had the opportunity to participate in the third International Public Health Conference in Africa (CPHIA 2023) that was held in Lusaka, Zambia. The event comprised numerous side events and sessions, and I thoroughly enjoyed topics that resonated with my interests. One of my favorites was "Accelerating the Implementation of the Continental Strategy on NCDIMH—Launch of the Continental Guidance Framework on Strengthening Surveillance Systems." I am delighted to learn that the Africa CDC is actively working on establishing connections between NCDs, injuries, and mental health across the continent. This integration is achieved through surveillance and disease integration, focusing on developing a specialized public health workforce for NCDs, injuries, and mental health surveillance. From my previous involvement in mortality surveillance work, I recognize the critical importance of such data for informing public health policy. Furthermore, a key takeaway from the conference pertains to the new public health order for Africa, specifically the guiding principles under the integrative and interdisciplinary approach. The strategy involves creating synergies with existing Africa CDC platforms and applying an interplanetary approach across each priority. Considering my Ph.D. work, which revolves around mental health within an interdisciplinary lens, I find the emphasis on integrating mental health into broader public health initiatives particularly relevant and promising. This aligns with the overarching goal of addressing health challenges holistically and underscores the interconnected nature of various health domains. Check out the recent publication about the conference: https://lnkd.in/ekaqy_zd #cphia2023 #NewPublicHealthOrder #ForSaferAndHealthierAfrica Africa CDC
