In a significant milestone for global public health, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the government of France have formalized their commitment to bolstering public health systems across the African continent. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed during a solemn event held at the Africa CDC Secretariat Offices in Addis Ababa, solidifying their collaborative efforts in public health.
H.E Dr Jean Kaseya, Director-General of Africa CDC, and Rémi Maréchaux, Ambassador of France to Ethiopia, penned their names to this historic agreement, emphasizing their shared vision to facilitate a coordinated global response to pressing public health challenges.
The primary objectives outlined in this landmark MoU encompass a wide range of initiatives aimed at strengthening the public health infrastructure of African nations. Key points include fortifying Africa CDC's operational capabilities, fostering the development of national public health institutes, augmenting disease surveillance and emergency response capacities, promoting local manufacturing of vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics, facilitating workforce training, and cultivating research partnerships between French and African institutions.
During the signing ceremony, H.E. Dr. Jean Kaseya expressed his enthusiasm for this partnership, stating, "The signing of this MoU solidifies our shared vision in nurturing a coordinated global response to global public health challenges. This action-oriented framework aims to advance the New Public Health order, enhance health workforce development, and strengthen public health systems for the benefit of all African citizens."
France's commitment to supporting public health in Africa has been unwavering. The nation played a pivotal role in launching the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator and has generously donated vaccines to numerous African states through initiatives such as COVAX. France's Development Agency has also provided substantial financial support to health programs in Africa, focusing on strengthening pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity and reinforcing diagnostics, surveillance, and regulation objectives.
This collaboration between Africa CDC and France is a testament to the global community's dedication to ensuring that Africa's public health systems are robust and well-prepared to face future challenges. It represents a significant step forward in the fight against infectious diseases and the promotion of better health outcomes for all African citizens.
Article by Jed Mwangi
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