The kickoff of ECOWAS One Health and Pandemic Preparedness Outreach Course in Banjul, Gambia, aimed at empowering professionals from Human, Animal and Environmental sectors with knowledge and skills for preventing the next pandemic with the OH approach ECOWAS Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control LOKOSSOU Kuassi Virgil

The kickoff of ECOWAS One Health and Pandemic Preparedness Outreach Course in Banjul, Gambia, aimed at empowering professionals from Human, Animal and Environmental sectors with knowledge and skills for preventing the next pandemic with the OH approach. ECOWAS Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control LOKOSSOU Kuassi Virgil

A press release from the “Training of trainers on infection, prevention and control (IPC) using the clean box approach”, held in Banjul. The Gambia from 18th- 19th of April, 2024.
Ecowas - Cedeao WAHO | OOAS LOKOSSOU Kuassi Virgil

A press release on the meeting of national heads of epidemiological surveillance, health information and point of entry officers in Union Économique Monétaire Ouest Africain region.
Ecowas - Cedeao WAHO | OOAS LOKOSSOU Kuassi Virgil

The objectives are:
i) to discuss the preparation of the annual budgeted plan & procurement plan;
ii) to prepare standard operating agreement between WAHO | OOAS & World Organisation for Animal Health;
iii) discuss micro-planning of the selected
safety programme activities & the start of their implementation.

A 4-day technical mission has opened today in Abuja to micro-plan & launch the activities of the new Health Security and Resilience Programme (MPA-HSRP) funded by World Bank Health.

Led by WAHO | OOAS' DG, the meeting brought together World Bank Health, World Organisation for Animal Health , WAHO | OOAS & ECOWAS Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control staff.

HAPPENING NOW !!!

WAHO | OOAS via ECOWAS Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control, in collaboration with Africa CDC CDC IANPHI, is holding from 11 to 14 March 2024 in Abuja (Nigeria), a workshop to strengthen the NPHI in West Africa.

LOKOSSOU Kuassi Virgil NCDC U.S. CDC Nigeria AFENET Nigeria USAID West Africa

The workshop aims to :

1. Share lessons learned from established NPHIs and those working to create an NPHIs in West Africa,

2. Explore challenges/bottlenecks for creating NPHIs,

3. Share strategies and recommendations for overcoming challenges in creating NPHIs.

Taking account of the specific needs of all sections of society in terms of risk com & community engagement #RCCE is the challenge that WAHO | OOAS intends to take up through ECOWAS Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control. It is in this context that a regional workshop was held in Accra from 28 Feb to 01 March 2024.

This meeting was organised with the financial support of African Development Bank Group & the collaboration of GIZ Nigeria & ECOWAS, USAID West Africa, World Bank Health.

The aim of the workshop was to assist build national and regional capacity to take gender issues into account in CREC.

The meeting brought together Ecowas - Cedeao regional network for #RCCE , made up of experts in the field from Ecowas - Cedeao M.States; technical and financial partners ; as well as recognised experts in the gender approach in the region.

' I encourage the network to work towards a change in behaviour by integrating the gender dimension into RCCE in order to reduce inequalities & discriminatory practices & improve the effectiveness of our public health interventions.' Dr Dacosta, ECOWAS RCCE chairman.

Dr Fall, on behalf of WAHO | OOAS's DG, said: '... gender mainstreaming contributes to a human rights-based approach & has a positive impact on the management of infectious disease outbreaks. This workshop should provide ambitious and realistic roadmap for effective integration.'

WAHO | OOAS LOKOSSOU Kuassi Virgil Dr Babacar FALL Ecowas - Cedeao Dr Olusegun ADEOYE Issiaka Sombie hadi janneh Ms Massa Mamey, representative of GIZ_RPPP, pointed out that the notion of gender had long been misunderstood, and that it was now considered a cross-cutting skill, which is crucial in the fight against epidemics and pandemics.

During the 3 days of deliberations, the stakeholders shared gender mainstreaming initiatives & challenges at regional and national levels; strengthened their understanding & capacity in the gender approach; &defined a roadmap to fill the gender mainstreaming gaps in ECOWAS #RCCE .

LOKOSSOU Kuassi Virgil Dr Babacar FALL Dr Olusegun ADEOYE Ministère de la Santé et de l'Action Sociale COUS SENEGAL NCDC Ministère en charge de la Santé Togo Participants were introduced to WAHO | OOAS's Gender in Infectious Disease Epidemic Preparedness & Response (GENPAR) tool; the WAHO briefing policy on gender mainstreaming in RCCE was presented & relevant recommendations made to fill the gaps in gender mainstreaming in #RCCE .

WAHO | OOAS in partnership with GIZ Nigeria & ECOWAS & European External Action Service - EEAS 🇪🇺, organised on 20 & 21 February 2024 in Lomé, a closing event of the European Union action 'Support to ECOWAS Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control' which aimed to strengthen preparedness & response system for infectious disease epidemics in Ecowas - Cedeao

The closing event of the #UE 4-year action, served as a platform to recognize the funding provided & to present the outcomes. This milestone event aimed to reflect on achievements, challenges, and lessons learned, while also facilitating dialogue & fostering networks.

LOKOSSOU Kuassi Virgil Dr Babacar FALL Dr Victor Fatimehin Issiaka Sombie Ministère de la Santé - Togo Joaquín Tasso Vilallonga 🇪🇺 WAHO | OOAS GIZ Nigeria & ECOWAS 'EU's action has been key to bolstering our regional capacity to detect, prevent & control outbreaks, thereby safeguarding health & well-being of our populations. #WAHO remains fully committed with partners to a healthier & more resilient Ecowas - Cedeao region'said WAHO | OOAS's DG