The World Health Organisation (WHO) Committee for Africa is considering a $106.8million strategy to tackle the public health emergencies that threaten Africa and disrupt the regional economy.
This was announced during the 66th session of the WHO Regional Committee in Addis Ababa, where health ministers from the 47 countries in the region are deliberating on a number of policy commitments in the Regional Strategy for Health Security and Emergencies 2016–2020.
One of the strategy’s most significant commitments, in direct response to the many outbreaks seen across the continent, is that by 2018, at least 80 percent of the 47 countries will have tested and funded all-hazards preparedness plans, conducted outbreak and disaster risk analyses and mapping, and implemented policies and guidelines to support International Health Regulations (IHR) and Disaster Risk Management (DRM) implementation.
“In our globalised world, diseases know no boundaries. We need stronger collaboration to protect national, regional and global health security. The implementation of the regional strategy for health security and emergencies would strengthen the capacity of countries in the region to prepare for, prevent, detect, respond to and quickly recover from emergencies in a predictable, dependable and accountable way,” Dr Matshidiso Rebecca Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, said.
Out of the 100 public health emergencies that occur in the African region every year, infectious diseases account for 80 percent, disasters for 18 percent, chemical poisoning and acute severe malnutrition account for only two percent.
“Countries can do more to tackle these outbreaks, many of which are preventable, by addressing the causes and being better prepared to avoid the current unacceptably high death, disease and disability, resulting in subsequent socio-economic disruptions,” the regional director added.
The regional strategy would establish a target that by 2020, at least 80 percent of member states should have a fully functioning public health emergency operation centre (EOC) and a functional national laboratory system and network that meets minimum standards.
Over 80 percent of member states should have an adequate health work force to respond to outbreaks and health emergencies and at least 90 percent of member states should be implementing the integrated disease surveillance and response (IDSR), including event-based surveillance systems with at least 90 percent country coverage by 2020.
In line with the guiding principles of the regional strategy, WHO and partners will work in strong collaboration and multisectoral engagement to prevent, contain and control emergencies in the region.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri