APA-Lusaka (Zambia) The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has partnered with the US government to develop a Joint Action Plan that will advance a shared vision to strengthen public health systems on the continent.
In a joint statement issued on the sidelines of the ongoing Third International Conference on Public Health in Africa in the Zambian capital Lusaka on Wednesday, Africa CDC and the US government said the action plan is expected to contribute towards stronger public health systems that would deliver improved health outcomes in Africa.
“The Joint Action Plan represents a significant step toward stronger and deeper Africa CDC-US collaboration, building on both Africa CDC and US health investments and partnerships across Africa,” the statement said.
The action plan would, among other things, “facilitate institutional strengthening, expert exchanges and knowledge-sharing in support of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the Africa CDC Strategic Plan 2023-2027.”
“Additionally, it will promote integrated health systems, strengthen public health emergency response capacity, enhance clinical and laboratory systems, and expand innovation and local manufacturing of health products.”
The Joint Action Plan seeks to operationalise the Memorandum of Cooperation to Promote Public Health Partnership signed by African Union Commission chairperson Moussa Faki and Secretary of State Antony Blinken in March 2022.
JN/APA