Namibia hosts meeting to advance national public health institutes

NAMIBIA – Namibia recently hosted a three-day meeting, bringing together National Public Health Institute (NPHI) directors and Ministries of Health representatives from Southern Africa to discuss the progress of establishing NPHIs in the region. 

The meeting aimed to facilitate knowledge sharing and best practice exchange among countries at different stages of NPHI development.

Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe are developing their NPHIs. 

At the same time, Angola, Mozambique, and Zambia have fully established and functional NPHIs. 

The meeting was crucial in advancing the establishment of NPHIs, which are essential for strengthening continental health security and consolidating critical public health assets.

The NPHIs serve as the focal point for international health regulations, coordinate resources to meet national health priorities, set public health priorities for Member States, provide public health emergency coordination, and generate evidence-based policies. 

The meeting provided a platform for Member States to update the region on their progress and share information, experiences, and best practices.

Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, emphasized the importance of the meeting, stating, “Let us recognize that our collective efforts and innovative thinking will significantly impact the way we address the pressing health issues in Africa.” 

He praised the dedication and expertise of health experts in the region, highlighting the need for unity and shared thoughts to transform healthcare landscapes across the continent.

The meeting, organized by Africa CDC in collaboration with GIZ African Union, underscored the commitment to support the development and strengthening of NPHIs across the continent. 

It was a significant step towards enhancing public health emergency preparedness and response and improving healthcare services across the region.

Dr. Mohammed Abdulaziz, head of the Disease Control Division at CDC Africa, emphasized the urgency of integrating community health workers into broader health systems. 

He noted that the need for community health workers has never been more pressing, given the ongoing challenges in healthcare systems and the migration of professional health workers to developed countries.

The meeting also highlighted the importance of sharing best practices, pooling resources, and coordinating activities at Member State and continental levels to maximize the impact and achieve greater efficiency in improving healthcare services.

The operationalization of the continental coordination mechanism (CCM) for community health was a key focus area, aiming to bring an additional half a million healthcare workers to the already agreed 2 million by the African Union Heads of State.

Overall, the meeting in Namibia was a pivotal step in advancing the establishment and functionality of NPHIs in Southern Africa, ensuring that the region is better equipped to address public health emergencies and improve healthcare services.

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