WHO, Africa CDC, RKI, Canada & UK expand health security partnership to boost disease surveillance across Africa

AFRICA— The World Health Organization (WHO), Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Robert Koch Institute (RKI), along with the governments of Canada and the United Kingdom, have announced the expansion of the Health Security Partnership to Strengthen Disease Surveillance in Africa (HSPA).

This successful initiative, initially launched in 2023, is now extending its reach to seven African countries, aiming to enhance the continent’s ability to detect and respond to disease outbreaks more effectively.

Africa faces more disease outbreaks than any other region worldwide. Despite significant progress in improving disease surveillance over the past decade, no single country can manage today’s complex health threats alone.

Recognizing this, the HSPA focuses on strengthening disease surveillance and epidemic intelligence across Africa, helping countries better identify and respond to public health threats—whether these threats arise naturally, accidentally, or deliberately.

Originally launched in six countries—The Gambia, Mali, Morocco, Namibia, South Africa, and Tunisia—the partnership will now include Rwanda during its second phase, which runs from 2025 to 2028.

The core of this initiative lies in a collaborative surveillance approach that connects the health and security sectors.

This collaboration aims to reduce biological risks and strengthen surveillance systems both nationally and internationally.

Importantly, the HSPA aligns with global health security efforts, including the Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction and the Signature Initiative to Mitigate Biological Threats in Africa (SIMBA).

These connections ensure that the partnership supports broader international goals to control biological threats.

Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, Acting WHO Regional Director for Africa and Deputy Executive Director of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, emphasized the significance of this partnership.

He described HSPA as a major step forward in building stronger health security collaborations in Africa.

By bringing together global, regional, and national partners, the initiative promotes collaborative surveillance through mutual exchange and practical action.

Dr. Ihekweazu also reassured that WHO remains dedicated to working with member states to ensure these efforts are coordinated, responsive, and aligned with each country’s priorities.

The partnership helps countries build capacities in several key areas, including biorisk management, event and indicator-based surveillance, genomic surveillance, and epidemic intelligence.

This support comes through training programs, development of guidance materials, co-creation of implementation roadmaps, and hands-on technical assistance.

These activities ensure that implementation matches country needs, integrates into existing national systems, and is sustainable over the long term.

Adding to this, Dr. Raji Tajudeen, Acting Deputy Director General and Head of the Division of Public Health Institutes and Research at Africa CDC, highlighted the project’s role in mobilizing political will for biosecurity and surveillance.

He explained that Africa CDC will assist member states in establishing regional frameworks for bio-surveillance of dangerous biological agents and toxins, as well as coordinating event-based surveillance.

Dr. Tajudeen stressed that collaboration with partners and coordination with member states is vital, especially given the limited resources available to strengthen Africa’s capacity for early detection, response, and management of biological threats.

The HSPA initiative has been supported from the beginning by the Government of Canada’s Weapons Threat Reduction Program, with additional funding for the second phase provided by the United Kingdom.

 While exact funding amounts have not been disclosed, these contributions underscore the international commitment to improving health security in Africa.

Building on the successes of phase one, the participating countries, supported by WHO and partners, are now accelerating efforts to create a healthier, safer, and more resilient Africa.

Through this expanded partnership, the continent is better equipped to face current and future public health challenges with stronger surveillance and response systems.

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