By Kumba Leigh in Lusaka
Stakeholders in public health sector in Africa have recognised the need to bolster their efforts by scaling-up their interventions with innovative solutions to achieve the last mile delivery. The latest evidence is how the power of collaboration and the power of leadership across the continent have been very valuable in various vaccination and immunization rollout campaign. This conviction and commitment is being demonstrated in the 2023 annual International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA) being held in the Zambian capital of Lusaka.
The theme for year’s CPHIA is, ‘Breaking Barriers: Repositioning Africa in the Global Health Architecture’. It is expected to feature nine plenary sessions, 14 parallel sessions, nine abstract-driven sessions, a high-level ministerial session, and opening and closing ceremonies, according to the organizers
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Prof. Margaret Gyapong, Director of the Institute of Health Research and Co-chair of CPHIA 2023 stressed that the coordination and joint collaboration in the implementation of health interventions across different parts on the continent played key roles in coordination.
“With these joint efforts, we know that we will be able to reach the last mile,” she said in a press briefing.
Estimates by CDC-Africa show that the continental manufacturing capacity for vaccines is relatively at an early stage of development.
Reports by the World Health Organization (WHO) show that there are fewer than 10 African manufacturers with vaccine production and are based in five countries: Egypt, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia.
The major concerns, according to experts is that there is very limited upstream production with most local companies only engaging in packaging and labelling, and occasionally fill and finish steps.
According to the UN agency, this presents enormous challenges when trying to establish sustainable vaccine industries in Africa which would ideally require advance purchasing support from African governments.
Zambian Minister of Health, Sylvia Masebo said significant efforts have been put towards strengthening health systems in Africa, despite challenges.
With current acceptance rates estimated at 75% to 80%, Dr Masebo explained that her government and stakeholders continue to engage traditional leaders and religious institutions to foster community support for vaccinations.
AU Member States have committed to implementing at least 90% of public health emergency operations centres (PHEOCS) by 2026. These interventions include building vaccination capacity, building laboratory and diagnostic system capacity, building infection prevention and control capacity, financial investment in infrastructure and health system capacity, among others.
