Strengthening Collaboration for Health Security — Open Letter to the Africa CDC – Pandemic Action Network

Building on civil society lessons learned during the mpox emergency, PAN, together with Resilience Action network and more than 20 partners shared a letter with Africa CDC leadership calling for strengthened collaboration for health security.
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February 12, 2025
Dr. Jean Kaseya
Director General — Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Dear Dr. Kaseya,
Civil society organizations working together through the CSO Mpox Coordination Group — organized by Resilience Action Network Africa, Pandemic Action Network, Amref Health Africa, EANNASO, and WACI Health — representing over 80 organizations and partners across Africa and globally, appreciate your steadfast leadership of the African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) amid a surge in health challenges on the continent, and around the world. We specifically recognize your leadership in declaring mpox a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security on Aug.13, 2024, and elevating the urgency for action with African and global leaders. Our group welcomed the active engagement of Africa CDC with civil society in the early days of the mpox emergency, especially the leadership of Dr. Ngashi Ngongo and Prof. Nicaise Ndembi. Their regular participation in our CSO coordination meetings demonstrated a commitment to collaboration. It underscored the critical role civil society plays in detecting, preventing, and responding to infectious disease outbreaks, not least with communities. 
However, as the mpox emergency continued, civil society engagement with the Africa CDC has not been consistent — which jeopardizes a comprehensive and well-informed response. We respectfully offer recommendations for solidifying and enhancing Africa CDC and civil society engagement, to maintain effective partnerships and enhance our collective response to this outbreak and future responses. 
Thank you again, for your leadership, which is crucial to Africa’s health and security. We  believe that addressing the above recommendations will strengthen our collective efforts in managing mpox and future health emergencies.
We remain steadfast partners in advancing health and security across Africa and commend your unwavering leadership in protecting the health of our communities.
Sincerely,
Mpox Insights & Actions: Making Sense of Mpox Trackers
Mpox Emergency: Priorities 100 Days In
Mpox Insights & Actions: Making Sense of Mpox Trackers
Mpox Emergency: Priorities 100 Days In

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