An initiative was launched on Monday 7 December to intensify the partnership between the ECDC and the African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the European Commission announced on the same day.
Named ‘EU for Health Security in Africa’, this four-year project aims to facilitate the harmonisation of disease surveillance and information and will support the implementation of the Africa CDC (based in Addis Ababa) public health workforce strategy.
It is financed by the European Development Fund to the tune of 10 million euros (including 1 million euros to cover the staff costs of Africa CDC).
Africa CDC and ECDC will be able to exchange experiences and lessons learnt from their collaboration with African and European Member States on: - continental harmonised surveillance of infectious diseases; - data sharing and early detection of threats; - preparedness, risk assessment, rapid response and emergency operations; - how to adapt them to their needs.
Capacity building in these areas will be integrated into existing Africa CDC initiatives and strategies to support the African health security framework.
Health security had been identified as a new area of cooperation at the meeting between the European Commission and the African Union Commission last February (see EUROPE 12435/2). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)