By Ibrahim A. Sherif

MONROVIA, July 30 (LINA) – The Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and Africa Public Health Foundation (APHF) have signed an agreement to support strengthening health systems in African Union (AU) Member States.

According to a statement from the Africa CDC, the APHF was established to enable investments in public health activities that support Africa CDC’s goals and objectives across the continent.

The statement added that the APHF main operational vectors include resource mobilization, grants management, advocacy for improved policies, private sector engagement and contributing to the analysis of public health data.

The Africa CDC statement pointed out that the Agreement outlines the collaboration modalities between the two institutions, with the priority areas articulated in the Africa CDC strategy as a reference.

“These include strengthening public health institutions and the workforce, expanding local manufacturing of vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics, and building partnerships with critical stakeholders within the broader health ecosystem,” the statement asserted.

The statement indicated that the agreement consolidates the joint work that has yielded several achievements, taking it to the next level as the two entities moved from emergency response to address the challenges the continent still faces holistically and from a longer term- perspective.

Speaking at the signing of the partnership agreement between the two institutions, the Director General of the Africa CDC Dr. Jean Kaseya, stated “Africa CDC’s strategic plan 2023-2027 is ambitious, aiming to achieve significant outcomes for the continent.

The Africa Public Health Foundation is pivotal in facilitating resource mobilization for Africa CDC, enhancing public health systems across African Union Member States, and supporting the implementation of The New Public Health Order.”

The Africa CDC statement noted that the APHF supports the Africa CDC New Public Health Order in its mission to build a healthier and more prosperous Africa.

For his part, Dr. Bernard Haufiku, APHF Governing Council Chair and Founder, states “I am excited about this special day as we have been looking forward to this momentous occasion on which we sign the agreement between APHF and Africa CDC”.

The APHF head disclosed that the strategic partnership between the two entities has benefited the continent through resource mobilization to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ebola, Marburg, and Cholera outbreaks, and related interventions.

“I am grateful to the Africa CDC for the support over the years since we started working in 2020 and the great work we have done together,” Dr. Haufiku said.

The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is a continental autonomous public health agency of the African Union that supports member states in efforts to strengthen health systems.

The Africa Public Health Foundation exists to forge partnerships and mobilize resources and investments for critical African public health initiatives in support of the Africa CDC and African Union’s New Public Health Order.