Africa CDC Unveils Bold Strategy to Decentralize Diagnostics, Revolutionize Outbreak Response
In a monumental step towards bolstering the continent's public health security, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has officially launched a new Continental Guidance for the Decentralization of Laboratory Services. This crucial strategy aims to revolutionize Africa's capacity to detect and respond to disease outbreaks by bringing testing capabilities significantly closer to communities and enhancing early detection.
The initiative was unveiled during a recent gathering in Yaoundé, Cameroon, where Africa CDC convened public health leaders from ten African countries. Together, they collaborated to co-develop this practical, action-oriented framework, designed to empower Member States in crafting national diagnostic strategies.
The Imperative of Decentralization
The core principle behind this new strategy stems from critical lessons learned during recent epidemics across Africa, particularly the ongoing Mpox outbreak. As noted by Professor Pembe Issamou Mayengue, a researcher at the National Public Health Laboratory in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, "One of the key lessons learned from recent epidemics in Africa is the strategic value of decentralizing diagnostics to overcome sample transport delays and accelerate response."
Dr. Yenew Kebede Tebeje, Acting Director of the Centre for Laboratory Diagnostics and Systems at Africa CDC, underscored this urgency, stating, "Detection capabilities must be decentralized to sub-national levels and below to enhance early warning surveillance and timely confirmation of disease threats." He emphasized that "Laboratory detection is the first line of defense in identifying potential outbreaks."
Key Pillars of the New Strategy
The Continental Guidance for the Decentralization of Laboratory Services outlines a comprehensive approach to achieving its ambitious goals. It includes:
Strengthening Regional Laboratories: Enhancing the capacity and capabilities of existing regional laboratory networks.
Intensive Personnel Training: Equipping health workers and laboratory personnel with the necessary skills for sample collection, storage, packaging for transportation, and advanced diagnostics, including molecular testing and sequencing.
Establishing National Sample Transport Systems: Creating efficient and reliable systems for transporting samples from local health facilities to testing laboratories, significantly reducing delays.
Conducting Lab Mapping: Systematically mapping existing laboratory infrastructure to identify gaps and improve overall surveillance.
Improving Surveillance: Integrating robust laboratory data with surveillance systems to ensure rapid and accurate identification of disease threats.
This initiative is a cornerstone of the Partnership to Accelerate Mpox and Other Outbreaks Testing and Sequencing in Africa (PAMTA) program, jointly launched by Africa CDC and the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM). The PAMTA program is generously co-funded by the European Union through its Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) and administered by the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA).
A Broader Vision for African Health Security
The decentralization of diagnostics is part of Africa CDC's broader strategic vision for transforming the continent's health security landscape. It builds on previous efforts to strengthen laboratory capacities, digitalize surveillance systems, and scale up community health worker programs. This holistic approach aims to reduce Africa's reliance on external support during health crises and build more resilient, self-sufficient health systems capable of preparing for, detecting, and responding to epidemic threats with speed and efficacy.
This move marks a significant leap forward in Africa's journey towards achieving greater health independence and ensuring that communities are at the forefront of the fight against future public health emergencies.
