The covid-19 pandemic: research and health development in the World Health Organisation Africa region

Concerns have been expressed about the view point of WHO AFRO concerning research for health in the African Region. WHO AFRO considers research a critical component in the improvement of health in the Africa region. Ensuring the effectiveness of our strategies, policies and programmes requires evidence. In the context of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, WHO research interests cover key areas of the response. The WHO AFRO consider research as critical in our efforts at protecting people against health emergencies and pandemics like the COVID-19 and ensuring universal access to proven interventions. In view of this, the WHO has taken steps to strengthen capacity for research in the region. The results of these efforts may take time to manifest but will surely do as we persist in our drive, with support from our partners

Implementation of the world health organization regional office for africa stepwise laboratory quality improvement process towards accreditation

Background: The increase in disease burden has continued to weigh upon health systems in Africa. The role of the laboratory has become increasingly critical in the improvement of health for diagnosis; management and treatment of diseases. In response; the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO) and its partners created the WHO AFRO Stepwise Laboratory (Quality) Improvement Process Towards Accreditation (SLIPTA) program.SLIPTA implementation process: WHO AFRO defined a governance structure with roles and responsibilities for six main stakeholders. Laboratories were evaluated by auditors trained and certified by the African Society for Laboratory Medicine. Laboratory performance was measured using the WHO AFRO SLIPTA scoring checklist and recognition certificates rated with 1-5 stars were issued. Preliminary results: By March 2015; 27 of the 47 (57%) WHO AFRO member states had appointed a SLIPTA focal point and 14 Ministers of Health had endorsed SLIPTA as the desired programme for continuous quality improvement. Ninety-eight auditors from 17 African countries; competent in the Portuguese (3); French (12) and eng (83) languages; were trained and certified. The mean score for the 159 laboratories audited between May 2013 and March 2015 was 69% (median 70%; SD 11.5; interquartile range 62-77). Of these audited laboratories; 70% achieved 55% compliance or higher (2 or more stars) and 1% scored at least 95% (5 stars). The lowest scoring sections of the WHO AFRO SLIPTA checklist were sections 6 (Internal Audit) and 10 (Corrective Action); which both had mean scores below 50%.Conclusion: The WHO AFRO SLIPTA is a process that countries with limited resources can adopt for effective implementation of quality management systems. Political commitment; ownership and investment in continuous quality improvement are integral components of the process

Disaster Risk Management: A Strategy for the Health Sector in the African Region

The WHO African Region continues to be challenged by frequent natural and man-made emergencies causing injury; death; population displacement; destruction of health facilities and disruption of services; often leading to disasters. The frequency and magnitude of emergencies and disasters have increased since the adoption; in 1997; of the Regional Strategy on Emergency Preparedness and Response. In addition several global initiatives developed since 2005; including the World Health Assembly resolution WHA64.10 (Strengthening national health emergency and disaster management capacities and resilience of health systems) adopted in 2011; have focused on disaster risk management (DRM) as the approach to containing and minimizing the impact of emergencies. WHO has recognized the need for Member States to formulate policies and legislation; and develop capacities in order to institutionalize DRM in the health sector. An assessment conducted in 2011 revealed that most countries in the Region lack these policies; capacities and legislation. This regional strategy proposes that Member States strengthen DRM by developing appropriate laws and policies; building adequate capacities in ministries of health; assessing and mapping the risks from a health sector perspective; assessing the level of safety of; and applying standards to; hospitals and other health facilities; building community resilience; strengthening preparedness; developing national standards for response; and strengthening evidence and knowledge management. This will ensure that the health system has been prepared and will be able to provide adequate health sector response to emergencies and reduce their likelihood of becoming disasters

Establishment of the African Public Health Emergency Fund

The Regional Committee; by resolution AFR/RC61/R3 requested the Regional Director to set up the African Public Health Emergency Fund (APHEF) including taking appropriate actions to ensure that the fund is fully operational. The resolution also requested the Regional Director to report regularly to the Regional Committee on the operations of the APHEF. The first progress report was submitted to; and discussed by; the Sixty-second session of the Regional Committee in Luanda; Angola; in 2012. The members of the Monitoring Committee of the Fund (MCF): the Ministers of Health of Gabon; Namibia and Nigeria; the Ministers of Finance of Algeria; Cameroon and South Africa; and the Chairman of the Programme Subcommittee; were appointed at the Sixty-second session of the Regional Committee. In the actions proposed in the first progress report submitted to the Regional Committee; the Regional Director was requested to convene the first meeting of the MCF to deliberate on the modalities for the commencement of operations of the APHEF. Furthermore; the Sixty-second session of the Regional Committee reiterated the mandate to the Regional Director to continue African Development Bank to take up the proposed role of Trustee of the APHEF. In the interim; WHO was designated to mobilize; manage and disburse contributions to the APHEF using its financial management and accounting systems

Strengthening public health laboratories in the WHO African Region: a critical need for disease control

Despite the progress and efforts being made to strengthen laboratory capacities in the Region; challenges remain. The purpose of this document is to raise awareness on the need to strengthen public health laboratory services and propose actions for building national laboratory capacity

Implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005) in the African Region

The International Health Regulations (IRH; 2005) are a legally binding international instrument for preventing and controlling the spread of diseases internationally while avoiding unnecessary interference with international travel and trade. Under the IHRs that were adopted on 23 May 2005 and entered into force on 15 June 2007; Member States have agreed to comply with the rules therein in order to contribute to regional and international public health security. Obligations also include the establishment of IHR National Focal Points (NFP) defined as a national centre designated by each Member State; and accessible at all times for communication with WHO IHR Contact Points. Furthermore; Member States were requested to designate experts for the IHR roster; enact appropriate legal and administrative instruments and mobilize resources through collaboration and partnership building. The Fifty-sixth session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa called for the implementation of the IHR in the context of the regional Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) strategy considering the commonalities and synergies between IHR (2005) and the IDSR. They both aim at preventing and responding to public health threats and/or events of national and international concern. This document discusses the issues and challenges and proposes actions that Member States should take to ensure the required IHR core capacities are acquired in the WHO African Region

Progress Report on Implementation of Regional Committee Resolution AFR/RC59/R3 on Accelerated Malaria Control

Several resolutions have been adopted and commitments made to scale up malaria control towards elimination in the African Region. These include United Nations; African Union; regional economic communities; World Health Assembly and Regional Committee resolutions. WHO AFRO provides support to countries; regional economic communities and the African Union in planning; implementing monitoring and evaluating their malaria control and elimination strategies. WHO also provides guidance and support for capacity building and resource mobilization towards reduction of the burden of malaria. As a result of scaling up evidence-based and high- impact malaria interventions; the overall estimated incidence of malaria in the African Region fell by 33 from 2000 to 2010 and the upward trend of the disease was reversed. Furthermore; 12 countries in the African Region are on track to reduce malaria incidence by at least 50-75 by 2015. The action points of Resolution RC 59/R3 on Accelerated Malaria Control: Towards Elimination in the African Region remain relevant and should continue to guide countries in the context of their broader health; development and poverty reduction agenda

Laboratory Capacity in 2012 for Diagnosis of Epidemic Prone Diseases in the Context of Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response in the WHO African Region

This paper provides the status of laboratory capacity for diagnosis of epidemic prone diseases in the context of Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) in 46 countries in the WHO African Region as of end of 2012 through self-assessment questionnaires. The findings from this assessment revealed that 98 (45/46) of the countries have the capacity for isolation; identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of common bacterial causes of enteric diseases and meningitis in the Region. Forty three countries performed standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for confirming suspected cases of pathogens such as Morbillivirus responsible of measles through the detection of specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) and 30 countries had at least polymerase chain reaction (PCR) capacity for detection of influenza viruses. However; the number of countries with an appropriate department of virology providing comprehensive diagnostic services is still limited especially for dangerous viral pathogens requiring high-level containment facilities. The collection and analysis of critical information on the existing diagnostic capacity were used to propose key recommendations for strengthening the laboratory confirmation of outbreaks in line with the IDSR Strategy and the International Health Regulations (IHR; 2005). The proposed key actions were focused in the following areas: high-level advocacy for country ownership; human resource development; laboratory space and equipment; quality assurance and laboratory networking