The inaugural Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA 2021)

The inaugural Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA), hosted by the Africa CDC and the African Union, is a three-day conference that will create a unique platform for participants to collaborate on research, innovation, and public health across the continent. CPHIA 2021 aims to help accelerate progress in the fight against COVID-19, while also addressing long-standing health emergencies such as HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria.

By creating more collaborative networks and encouraging multi-sectoral coordination, the conference can help improve solidarity and speed in responding to future threats.

CPHIA 2021 is a virtual conference, which will allow participation from anywhere with an internet connection. We hope to be able to gather in person in future yea

Who Should Attend

The CPHIA aims to reach individuals from academic and government institutions; national, regional, community and faith-based organizations; private sector firms; as well as, researchers, front-line health workers and advocates. Anyone, however, is welcome to participate in the conference.

Young professionals who recently began their careers in public health and related fields are especially encouraged to attend in order to share their research, hone their skills and receive mentorship from others. More details on these opportunities will be shared in the coming months.

Conference Tracks

Track 1: Epidemiology of SARS-COV-2, virology, prevention and clinical management

Track 2: Vaccine advocacy, production and distribution

Track 3: A new public health order for Africa in the context of public health emergency

Track 4: Assessing the response to COVID-19 in Africa to prepare for future health threats

Track 5: COVID-19 and equitable health system strengthening in Africa

Track 6: Digitalisation, modelling and analytics to support an effective public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Track 7: Agenda 2063: whole-of-society – private sector, community and leadership – approach in combatting COVID-19 and other emerging diseases

Agenda

Day 1: 14 December

3:00PM – 3:50PM EAT: Opening Ceremony

4:00PM – 5:30PM EAT: Plenary Session 1 – Epidemiology of SARS-COV-2, Virology, Prevention and Clinical Management
Description: While the African continent was predicted to be particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, African populations appear to have thus far evaded widespread morbidity and mortality due to the virus. This track will assess how the pandemic has unfolded on the African continent, discuss possible biologic mechanisms that may have mitigated the impact of the disease, identify areas of particular need for future research in the African setting, and discuss the future of COVID-19 in Africa.

Confirmed speakers include:

Dr. John Nkengasong, Director, Africa CDC
Prof. Penny Moore, South African Research Chair of Virus-Host Dynamics and Reader / Associate Professor at the University of the Witwatersrand and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD)
Prof. Salim Abdool Karim, Director, CAPRISA
Prof. Ibrahim Abubakar, Dean of Faculty of Population Health Sciences, Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, University College London (UCL)

Day 2: 15 December

11:00AM – 12:30PM EAT: Plenary Session 2 – Vaccination in Africa: Research Capacity, Advocacy, Manufacturing and Distribution
Description: As the world looks toward preparing for future health threats, African countries need to strengthen their vaccine manufacturing capacities by bolstering regulatory agencies, developing the necessary human resource potential and attracting financial and technical investment. This track will explore the current state of COVID-19 vaccine distribution in Africa and the way forward, as well as the future of vaccine manufacturing on the continent.

Confirmed speakers include:

Dr. Benido Impouma, Director of Universal Health Coverage, Communicable & Non-Communicable Diseases, WHO Regional Office for Africa
Prof. Ernest Aryeetey, Secretary-General of the African Research Universities Alliance and African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) Board Chair at the University of Ghana
Madam Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director, UNAIDS
Prof. Petro Terblanche, Managing Director, Afrigen Biologics

11:00AM – 12:30PM EAT: Plenary Session 3 – COVID-19 and Equitable Health System Strengthening in Africa
Description: African countries and continental public health institutions have had to develop innovative approaches to meet the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic – from a rapid expansion of diagnostic capacity and genomics, to pooling resources between nations and across the public-private sector. This track will explore case studies that can inform innovative approaches to building strong health systems in Africa.

Confirmed speakers include:

Rt. Hon. Dr. Michel Sidibe, Special Envoy for the African Medicines Agency, African Union
Mr. Strive Masiyiwa, Founder and Executive Chairman, Econet Global
Honorable Minister Lt Col Dr. Tharcisse Mpunga, Minister of State in Charge of Primary Healthcare, Ministry of Health, Rwanda
Prof. Tulio de Oliveira, Director, Centre for Epidemic Response & Innovation, Professor, Stellenbosch University

3:00PM – 4:30PM EAT: Plenary Session 4 – The Case for a New Public Health Order for Africa
Description: The proposed New Public Health Order is an urgent call for Africa to strengthen public health institutions, decentralize public health engagements for more efficient implementation, bolster capacity for local production of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics, while creating significant investments in the health workforce and leadership programs, and building respectful public-private partnerships. This track will focus on two tenets of the New Public Health Order: building the capacity of the Africa CDC and National Public Health Institutes, and investing in the public health workforce.

Confirmed speakers include:

Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, Assistant Director-General, Health Emergency Intelligence, WHO
Dr. Natalie Mayet, Deputy Director, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, and Chairperson, IANPHI-Africa.
Dr. Vera Songwe, Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
Dr. Amadou A. Sall, CEO, Institut Pasteur de Dakar

Day 3: 16 December

11:00AM – 12:30PM EAT: Plenary Session 5 – Assessing the Response to COVID-19 in Africa to Prepare for Future Health Threats
Description: While African countries have responded relatively well to the pandemic, the continent has faced a variety of challenges, including in some instances weak leadership; restrictions in the global supply chain with insufficient test kits, personal protective equipment and vaccines; and misinformation. This track will examine the effectiveness of Africa’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and highlight key successes, challenges and lessons learned to prepare for future health threats. It will also explore ways to prevent the severe unintended economic and social consequences that often follow health crises such as COVID-19.

Confirmed speakers include:

Prof. Tom Kariuki, Former Director of Programmes, African Academy of Science
Prof. Helen Rees, Founder and Executive Director, Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa
Dr. Michael Makanga, Executive Director, European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership
Prof. Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, African Export-Import Bank

11:00AM – 12:30PM EAT: Plenary Session 6 – Digitisation, Modelling and Analytics to Support an Effective Public Health Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Description: The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the advent of digital tools and technologies for public health messaging, epidemiologic surveillance, screening and diagnosis for rapid case identification, interruption of community transmission and clinical care delivery. This track will explore how digitisation, modelling and analytics can be fruitfully employed to sustain the public health goals of quality, accessibility, efficiency and equity in health care.

Confirmed speakers include:

Dr. Yvonne Mburu, Founder and Executive Director, Nexakili
Dr. Edem Adzogenu, Co-Chair of the Initiative’s Executive Committee, AfroChampions
Ms. Abimbola Adebakin, CEO, Advantage Health Africa

3:00PM – 4:30PM EAT: Plenary Session 7 – Agenda 2063: Whole-of-society – Private Sector, Community and Leadership, Approach in Combatting COVID-19 and Other Emerging Diseases
Description: Effective partnerships and collaborations across all sectors will be critical to winning the fight against COVID-19. This track will focus on what can be done to create and harmonize more effective platforms for public-private dialogue to strengthen health systems; the innovations and investments that should be prioritized to better prepare for and respond to future pandemics and outbreaks; how leveraging private sector supply chain best practices can improve health supply chains in low- and middle-income countries; the role of local leadership in effective testing and diagnostics; and community engagement best practices.

Confirmed speakers include: