Africa CDC and Enabel strengthen collaboration to reinforce health systems capacity in Africa

Addis Ababa, 5 February 2024 – Africa CDC, the Ethiopia-based Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Belgian development agency Enabel sign a Memorandum of Understanding to work more closely together on better health systems in Africa.

Africa CDC is an autonomous health institution of the African Union charged with the responsibility of promoting the prevention, control and respond to disease threats in Africa.

Both Africa CDC and Enabel recognise the benefits of strengthening their cooperation in public health efforts to strengthen health systems and to improve health security in Africa.

The signature of the MoU occurs in the margin of a Team Europe health mission to Addis Ababa from 5 to 7 February 2024, organised by the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the EU Delegation to the African Union, to strengthen the partnership between Africa and the EU.

“The Memorandum of Understanding between Africa CDC and Enabel, the Belgian development agency, signifies a new beginning in our collaborative efforts. Our collective aspiration is to cultivate stronger and more sustainable health interventions across the continent, particularly in advancing local manufacturing for a lasting impact,” declared H.E. Dr Jean Kaseya, Director General, Africa CDC

 
During this mission, Belgian Minister for Development Cooperation Caroline Gennez and EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides visit Ethiopia and the African Union, together with high-ranking representatives from Croatia, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Spain and the European Commission.

The MoU builds on existing collaboration between Africa CDC, through the Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM) and Enabel within Tthe Team Europe Support Structure Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines, Medicines and Health Technologies (TESS MAV+). The Memorandum aims at strengthening the cooperation between Africa CDC and Enabel in public health and epidemic preparedness, at strengthening health systems and to improve health security in Africa through robust health systems.

The objectives of the collaboration are:

• to strengthen the capacities of Africa CDC to promote local manufacturing of vaccines, medicines and health technologies, including diagnostics, and facilitate equitable access to health products to all Africans;
• to support the capacities of Africa CDC to strengthen the research and development of needed health products;
• to foster research partnerships between Belgian and African institutions;
• to support the strengthening of integrated public health systems in Africa;
• to support the development of national public health institutes;
• to contribute to effective strategies and mechanisms for social protection in health;
• to support the integrated digital transition of health and pharmaceutical systems in Africa;
• to support the Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing’s (PAVM) Research & Development programme.

How will these objectives be reached?

The TESS MAV+ project (Team Europe Support Structure on Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines, Medicines and Health Technologies in Africa) will embed an R&D Expert in Africa CDC until 2025. Scholarships will be facilitated, inter-academic links will be strengthened and training will be organised aligned to the priorities of Africa CDC and PAVM. Technical assistance will be provided in specific areas, and programmes for capacity building will be promoted, including seminars, workshops and training courses for African experts specialized in relevant fields of interest. Documents, data and information on the objectives, programmes, development strategies and activities will be exchanged in order to avoid duplication and to facilitate coordination of implementation of joint activities.

“The provision of quality health services for all requires strong public institutions and coordination. This collaboration with Africa CDC is paramount to move forward and strengthen the continental health security architecture,” says Jean Van Wetter, CEO of Enabel.