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 Many urgent threats to global health – such as antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and numerous emerging infectious diseases – require closer intersectoral collaboration and the implementation of a One Health approach in order to address them effectively. In Namibia, implementing a One Health approach has led to some initial success…
Context The emergence of COVID-19 revealed once more the delicate balance of the wildlife-human interface and the threat that zoonoses pose for global health. Early detection and effective risk communication systems can alert public health authorities in time to mitigate potential risks when pathogens jump from animals to humans. In…
Context Vaccines remain the most effective tool for preventing infectious diseases and for improving global health. As only 1% of the vaccines needed in Africa are currently produced in Africa, the continent needs a robust vaccine industry. The COVID-19 pandemic, in particular, has highlighted the need for supranational structures to…
Context The Ebola epidemic and the COVID-19 pandemic have clearly demonstrated that timely access to safe, effective and affordable medicines and vaccines is vital to prevent and fight infectious diseases and protect public health. Many African countries, however, rely on imports of vaccines because national production capacity is insufficient and…