Korede Abdullah in Lagos
In a landmark move to bolster health systems across Africa, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and Brazil’s Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance health innovation, manufacturing, and research.
The agreement, formalized the Director-General of Africa CDC, Dr. Jean Kaseya and President of Fiocruz, Dr. Mario Santos Moreira, was signed on the sidelines of the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, marking Fiocruz’s 125th anniversary.
“This partnership embodies Africa CDC’s commitment to action-oriented, respectful collaborations that deliver real results for Africa’s health security,” said Dr. Kaseya.
The MoU outlines joint initiatives to strengthen National Public Health Institutes, promote disease surveillance using the One Health approach, and scale up local manufacturing of health products.
It also emphasizes legal preparedness and research-to-policy translation, aligning with Africa CDC’s New Public Health Order and Strategic Plan for 2023–2027. “The agreement signed with Africa CDC reflects Fiocruz’s vocation for establishing structural cooperation,” said Dr. Moreira.
“We reaffirm our commitment to working together to strengthen health systems, promoting the sovereignty of countries in the Global South.”
The collaboration comes at a critical time as Africa seeks health sovereignty. Despite significant need, the continent produces only about 1% of the vaccines it consumes.
With initiatives like the Platform for Harmonized African Health Products Manufacturing (PHAHM), Africa CDC aims to change that, with 25 vaccine projects in the pipeline and eight antigens set to reach the market by 2030.
A Joint Action Plan will guide implementation, including technical working groups and resource mobilization. “Partnering with Fiocruz unlocks a new dimension of South-South cooperation – built on mutual priorities and shared expertise,” Dr. Kaseya emphasized.
