ETHIOPIA – African Union (AU) Member States have approved a new strategic plan to combat endemic diseases across the continent.

The announcement came during a key workshop hosted by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in Addis Ababa from November 27 to 29, 2024.

The event marked the launch of the 2024–2027 strategy, focusing on strengthening health systems and prioritising the prevention and control of significant health threats, including HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis (TB), hepatitis, and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

Speaking during the event, Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, expressed his honour in addressing delegates from all 55 AU member states at the workshop.

He emphasised the importance of unified action to tackle the continent’s pressing health challenges and anticipated that the gathering would result in renewed commitments and actionable disease prevention and control strategies.

Infectious diseases remain a significant burden in Africa, accounting for 94% of global malaria cases and 95% of malaria-related deaths.

The continent also bears 40% of the global burden of NTDs, with every African country facing at least one endemic NTD.

Despite these challenges, progress has been hindered by underfunded health systems, limited research, and inadequate access to treatment.

The workshop focused on several key objectives, including validating strategic priorities for combating diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria, and TB; fostering multisectoral collaboration; finalizing an implementation plan with clear monitoring and evaluation metrics; and establishing sustainable partnerships to strengthen health systems over the long term.

This initiative aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the Africa CDC’s “New Public Health Order,” which seeks to enhance Africa’s self-reliance in health security.

Political leaders, such as South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa and Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, will play crucial roles as champions for pandemic preparedness and workforce development, respectively.

Other champions will include Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, who will lead cholera elimination efforts, and Kenyan President William Ruto, who will promote local manufacturing.

The workshop concluded with the endorsement of a strategic priorities document and a costed implementation plan.

Dr. Kaseya commended the transformative collaboration among Member States, expressing optimism about building a more resilient and inclusive health future for Africa.

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