African Field Epidemiology Network

11/05/2026

Dr. Simon Antara, Director of AFENET and member of the ECOWAS Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control Technical Advisory Council, attended the Council’s Annual Meeting held in Abuja, Nigeria, from 6–8 May 2026.

The meeting brought together regional leaders and partners to discuss strategies for strengthening health security across the ECOWAS sub-region, including workforce development, surveillance systems, pandemic preparedness and response, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and cross-border collaboration.

Pictured with Dr. Mamadou Diarrassouba, Executive Director of the ECOWAS Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control, and Dr. Kokou Alignon, Regional Director of Africa CDC RCC-West Africa.

The discussions emphasized the importance of stronger regional collaboration, resilient public health systems, and a competent workforce prepared to respond to emerging health threats across Africa.

07/05/2026

AFENET Collaborates with US CDC and Other Partners to Conduct a Simulation Exercise to Strengthen Regional Lassa Fever Preparedness and Response in West Africa

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. CDC), in collaboration with the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), the ECOWAS Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control (RCSDC), the International Association of National Public Health Institutes (IANPHI), and Integrated Quality Laboratory Services (IQLS), is conducting a Regional Simulation Exercise (SimEx) on Lassa fever preparedness and response in Benin from 4–8 May 2026.

The exercise brings together surveillance and laboratory officers from Benin, Mali, Togo, Ghana, Nigeria, Mauritania, and Burkina Faso to assess regional capacities in surveillance, laboratory systems, infection prevention and control, risk communication and community engagement, and cross-border coordination.

Coordinated by Dr Kerton Victory, U.S. CDC West Africa Workforce Development Regional Advisor, the SimEx aims to strengthen regional preparedness and improve coordinated responses to cross-border public health threats such as Lassa fever.

Officially launched in Cotonou by Dr Ali IMOROU BAH CHABI, Secretary General at the Ministry of Health of Benin, the SimEx highlights the importance of regional collaboration and multisectoral coordination in addressing emerging and re-emerging disease threats across West Africa.

Speaking during the opening session, Mr Shane Dixson, Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Cotonou, reaffirmed the commitment of the United States Government to advancing global health security and strengthening preparedness systems across the region. He emphasized that investments in surveillance, laboratory systems, and emergency response capacities are critical to protecting both public health and economic stability.

Representing AFENET, Dr Herbert Kazoora, Senior Epidemiologist, emphasized that the exercise contributes to AFENET’s vision of “A Healthier Africa” by strengthening resilient systems capable of detecting and responding to emerging and re-emerging threats. He added that the exercise reflects a shared regional commitment to improving preparedness, coordination, and rapid response to public health emergencies.

AFENET technical experts supporting the exercise include Dr Seogo Hamadou, Regional Technical Coordinator for Francophone West Africa; Dr Donne Ameme, Regional Technical Coordinator for Anglophone West Africa; Dr Nestor Noudeke, Resident Advisor for the Benin Field Epidemiology Training Program; and Dr Marianne Bonkano and Dr Victor Adeola from AFENET/RCSDC.

The Regional Simulation Exercise serves as an important platform for strengthening collaboration, testing emergency response systems, and enhancing regional readiness to manage cross-border disease threats in West Africa.

07/05/2026

🇲🇿 Mozambique is strengthening frontline surveillance through the One Health approach.

From 13–17 April 2026, 17 FETP Frontline mentors from six provinces gathered in Maputo for intensive training on the updated FETP Frontline curriculum—focused on integrating human, animal, and environmental health perspectives.

The training strengthened mentoring and adult learning skills to better support district surveillance officers and improve outbreak detection and response at local level.

📍 More than 60% of emerging diseases are zoonotic, making One Health collaboration essential for health security.

06/05/2026

Building a workforce that is ready, not just trained.

At the FELTPs in Global Health Security session during the Kenya Health Security Convention 2026, panelists explored what it truly takes to strengthen health security through people, systems, and partnerships.

Featuring voices from Patrick Nguku (AFENET), Jonas Hines (CDC), Maureen Kamene (KNPHI), and Samuel Kadivane (FESK), the discussion focused on one central question:

👉 Are we truly prepared for the next outbreak?

30/04/2026

Inaugurée officiellement par le Dr Toralta Nodjitoloum Josephine, secrétaire générale du Ministère de la Santé du Tchad, la formation des médecins de province en matière de surveillance et de vaccination marque une étape décisive dans le renforcement des capacités du pays en matière de détection précoce, d’intervention rapide et de prise de décision fondée sur les données. En dotant les médecins de province de compétences pratiques en matière de surveillance et de gestion des épidémies, le Tchad renforce son système de santé là où cela compte le plus : en première ligne.

29/04/2026

Jour 3 – Formation des médecins provinciaux à la surveillance épidémiologique et à la vaccination : de la formation à l'action

Dans le cadre de la formation en cours des médecins provinciaux à la surveillance épidémiologique et à la vaccination à N'Djamena, le troisième jour passe des connaissances fondamentales à la préparation opérationnelle.

Thèmes abordés aujourd'hui :
• Gestion et coordination des urgences de santé publique par le biais d'opérations d'urgence
• Rôle du laboratoire dans la surveillance et la confirmation des cas
• Prélèvement, transport et stockage des échantillons

Les participants acquièrent également des compétences essentielles dans les domaines suivants :
• Coordination multisectorielle lors d'épidémies
• Processus de confirmation des cas de bout en bout (terrain → laboratoire)
• Protocoles de biosécurité et de manipulation des échantillons
• Prise de décision rapide et fondée sur les données

La journée est très axée sur la pratique :
➡️ exercices sur le terrain et simulations pour mettre en application ces compétences dans des scénarios réels

🎯 Passer de la théorie à l'action, en donnant aux médecins les moyens de détecter, de confirmer et de réagir efficacement là où cela compte le plus.

29/04/2026

🧠 Quiz Time!
Près de la moitié de la population mondiale n’a pas accès aux services de santé essentiels.

👉 Combien de personnes sont concernées dans le monde ?
Votez dans les commentaires 👇

A. 500 millions 👤
B. 1,5 milliard 👥
C. 3,5 milliards 🌍
D. 5 milliards 🌎

⏳ Réponse bientôt !

28/04/2026

🇸🇸 South Sudan – Behind the response

From supporting vaccination campaigns to actively searching for missed cases in communities, AFENET teams in South Sudan shared worked alongside health workers to strengthen detection, reporting, and response in various communities.

Their work is helping reach millions of children with vaccines, improve early reporting of illness, and ensure no community is left behind.

📍 Behind the scenes. Real impact. Stronger systems.

🔗

South Sudan continues to face repeated disease outbreaks due to conflict, population movement, flooding, and a fragile health system. In 2025, the country responded to an outbreak of vaccine-derived polio […]

28/04/2026

🇷🇼 Rwanda FETP – Response video

This is how Rwanda’s FETP responded to a Marburg outbreak in real time.

It began with a signal, an unusual case flagged through the system. Within hours, teams were activated. Field epidemiologists moved quickly, investigating, tracing contacts, verifying data, and coordinating response across levels. Information flowed. Decisions were made. Action followed.

▶️ Watch the story from Rwanda FETP Marburg response. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAAmUvyNZh8&t=14s

📍 Not just response. A system that works when it matters most.

5 likes. "Rwanda's swift and coordinated response to Mpox"

28/04/2026

23 médecins provinciaux suivent actuellement une formation à N'Djamena en vue d'un déploiement de 6 mois dans les provinces et les districts du Tchad, où ils renforceront la surveillance de la PFA et d'autres MEV, les enquêtes sur les cas et la riposte aux épidémies sur le terrain.

Dirigée par le ministère de la Santé publique avec le soutien de l'AFENET, des Centres de contrôle et de prévention des maladies (CDC) et de la Fondation Gates, cette formation permet à ces responsables provinciaux d'acquérir des compétences pratiques en matière de SIMR, de surveillance de la PFA, d'enquête sur les maladies prioritaires, de systèmes de laboratoire et d'utilisation des données (DHIS2).

Grâce à des simulations pratiques, les participants établissent des plans de surveillance, simulent des interventions en cas d’épidémie et élaborent des microplans, s’assurant ainsi d’être prêts à agir dans des situations réelles.

Leur déploiement permettra de renforcer la détection précoce, la réponse rapide et la prise de décision fondée sur les données, ce qui améliorera l'accès aux populations mal desservies et consolidera les systèmes de surveillance là où ils sont le plus nécessaires.

De la formation à l'action : renforcer les systèmes de santé jusqu'au dernier kilomètre

27/04/2026

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