PAHO join forces with Africa CDC to strengthen regional health systems

USA—The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has entered into a formal partnership with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to promote equitable access to vaccines, medicines, and other essential health technologies.

This collaboration aims to enhance regional capacities by leveraging the expertise of both organizations.

PAHO will contribute through its Regional Revolving Funds, while Africa CDC will focus on advancing mechanisms such as the African Pooled Procurement initiative and promoting local manufacturing of critical health products across both regions.

This joint effort will not only focus on procurement but also aims to drive research, innovation, and the digital transformation of health systems in response to emerging public health threats.

The partnership seeks to strengthen regional regulatory systems and production strategies to boost preparedness and response capabilities for future health emergencies.

PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa emphasized the importance of this collaboration, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He highlighted the crucial role of building a more resilient healthcare system and added that increasing regional manufacturing capacity and innovation will reduce dependency on global health responses during future pandemics or crises.

Speaking at the opening session of the high-level Africa CDC delegation’s visit to PAHO Headquarters in Washington D.C. on 18 September, Dr. Barbosa expressed optimism about the exchange of expertise between the two organizations.

He noted that such collaborations would strengthen efforts to meet the public health needs of their respective regions, fostering collective expertise to address shared challenges.

The agreement was officially signed following the Africa CDC delegation’s first visit to PAHO from September 18 to 20.

The visit also included discussions on the Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM) program, which the African Union initiated in 2021.

PAVM aims to boost the African continent’s ability to produce over 60% of its vaccine requirements by 2040.

 Additionally, the discussions covered expanding South-South cooperation to tackle health challenges and capitalize on mutual opportunities.

Throughout the meeting, PAHO experts shared insights into operationalising their Regional Revolving Funds, including vital aspects such as demand consolidation, planning, forecasting, and logistics.

 They also addressed the importance of strengthening regulatory frameworks and regional production strategies.

These exchanges highlighted the critical role of regional partnerships in achieving sustainable health outcomes.

Africa CDC Director General, Dr. Jean Kaseya, welcomed the new chapter of collaboration between Africa and the Americas.

He emphasized that this partnership aligns with the shared mission of supporting member states to build stronger health systems and respond to emergencies.

Dr. Kaseya specifically highlighted PAHO’s expertise in pooled procurement, which would greatly assist Africa CDC in implementing the African Pooled Procurement Mechanism (APPM).

This mechanism, a key decision by African leaders, aims to improve access to high-quality, affordable health products while promoting local manufacturing.

In addition to the primary agreement, Africa CDC also briefed PAHO on its current Mpox response plan, focusing on collaborative efforts with partners to prevent deaths and ensure access to life-saving vaccines.

Both organizations reiterated their commitment to continue working on broader strategic health priorities in the future.

Dr. Kaseya expressed enthusiasm for the mutual learning opportunities this partnership will provide, aiming for improved health outcomes in both Africa and the Americas.

Concluding the discussions, Dr Barbosa noted that this collaboration presents significant opportunities to advance public health initiatives and ensure equitable access to critical health technologies across both regions.

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