Africa CDC signs landmark partnership with PSI to boost continental health security

ETHIOPIA—The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and Population Services International (PSI) have signed a partnership agreement to expand access to immunisation and integrated primary healthcare services across Africa.

The partnership combines Africa CDC’s continental leadership in health security with PSI’s experience in working with governments, communities and partners to design and scale people-centred healthcare solutions.

Together, the organisations will develop innovative approaches to preventive care, including pharmacy-based immunisation delivery, stronger public-private partnerships, health workforce integration, evidence generation and knowledge exchange.

Africa CDC Director General Dr Jean Kaseya and PSI President Michael Holscher signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as African countries continue efforts to close gaps in access to essential health services and build more resilient health systems.

More than seven million children in Africa remain unvaccinated with routine vaccines, while a further 3.3 million children have started but not completed their vaccination schedules.

These gaps highlight the need for innovative approaches that bring immunisation services closer to communities and expand access to vaccination across the life course.

“Africa’s health security depends on our ability to ensure that every person can access life-saving preventive services,” said Dr Kaseya.

He added that the partnership with PSI would help bring immunisation and primary healthcare closer to communities while strengthening national health systems and supporting a healthier, more resilient Africa.

Expanding pharmacy-based immunisation

A key focus of the agreement will be advancing Pharmacy-Based Immunisation Delivery (PBID) models in line with national policies.

The initiative aims to expand access to vaccination and preventive health services through diverse community-based platforms.

The partnership will support African Union Member States in integrating trained pharmacists and other healthcare workers into national health systems.

It will also generate evidence to guide policy and programme decisions while promoting the adoption of effective immunisation delivery models.

PSI will serve as the technical lead and implementing partner for the PBID initiative.

Its responsibilities will include technical design, research, digital innovation, workforce development, stakeholder engagement, monitoring and evaluation, and country-level implementation aligned with national priorities.

Meanwhile, Africa CDC will provide strategic advisory support, regional coordination, policy dialogue and convening support to promote knowledge exchange and sustainable scale-up across Member States.

“No one should miss out on life-saving immunisation and preventive care because it is too far away or too difficult to access,” said Holscher.

He added that PSI would work with Africa CDC and African governments to bring essential services closer to where people live and work through locally led solutions that strengthen primary healthcare systems and improve long-term health outcomes.

Supporting health system resilience

The collaboration aligns with Africa CDC’s mandate to strengthen disease prevention and control, improve health security and advance public health systems across the continent.

Its Strategic Plan (2023–2027) prioritises broader access to vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics, stronger public health institutions, a skilled health workforce and partnerships that address Africa’s evolving health challenges.

Under the agreement, the organisations will facilitate regional and sub-regional knowledge exchange, engage ministries of health and immunisation stakeholders, disseminate implementation evidence and support long-term scale-up planning.

They will also develop platforms to document and share good practices across African Union Member States.

The two organisations will establish technical working groups to review progress, address policy and operational priorities, and identify further opportunities for collaboration.