Context The strengthening of national public health institutions (NPHIs) is an essential component of global health protection. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and Robert Koch Institute (RKI) have been working together on issues related to global health security for more than a decade. In 2019, a…
Context Endemic and emerging zoonotic diseases pose a threat to the health of humans and animals and to global health security. In Tunisia, due to its geographical position between sub-Saharan Africa and Mediterranean Europe and the mounting effects of climate change, the risk of zoonotic spillover events is increasing, requiring…
Context Being prepared for pandemics is one of the most important tasks of public health actors globally. Diseases like Lassa fever, Ebola virus disease and other endemic diseases in West Africa have highlighted the crucial importance of a good understanding of the One Health concept combined with a people-centred…
Context Health care facilities around the world are increasingly threatened by the spread of health care-associated infections and antibiotic resistance, which greatly endanger the safety of patients and place an additional burden on national health care systems. In Guinea in particular, the health system is challenged by numerous socio-economic…
Context The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the need to increase laboratory capacities in many countries, including the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe. Since 2020, the BNITM has been supporting the country’s Ministry of Health in implementing laboratory diagnostics for SARS-CoV-2 under the SToP-CoV project. Nevertheless, there is still room…
Context Madagascar is facing significant challenges in its health care system, due to the high prevalence of infectious diseases in the country, particularly neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Many of these diseases occur simultaneously and have chronic manifestations, imposing a huge burden on the population. It is therefore vitally important to…
Context Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global problem that jeopardises the successful treatment and control of infectious diseases. Each year, millions of people – particularly children under the age of five who are the most vulnerable to resistant pathogens – die of AMR-related infections. Effective surveillance systems are key to…
Context Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, such as COVID-19 in 2021, Ebola virus disease in 2014 and human Mpox in 2023, pose a great threat to the global community not only from a public health perspective, but also from an economic and social standpoint. Furthermore, the changing climate and the…
Context Emerging viral infections (EVIs), including viral haemorrhagic fevers (VHF) such as Lassa fever and Ebola virus disease, pose a serious threat to public health. Among others, this is because of their epidemic potential, limited treatment options, high mortality rates, and the lack of available and efficient vaccines. They have…