Algeria’s Health Minister, Africa CDC Regional Director Discuss Strengthening Cooperation
Algeria’s Health Minister Mohamed Seddik Ait Messaoudan received at the ministry’s headquarters the Regional Director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for North Africa, Wessam Mankoula, and his delegation at the ministry on Wednesday, as per a ministry statement.
The two sides explored ways to expand and strengthen their cooperation, the same source added.
During the meeting, which was attended by senior officials from the central administration, the Regional Director gave “a detailed overview of the Africa CDC’s mandate and its strategic role in supporting health systems across Africa,” the ministry said.
He focused particularly on “epidemic surveillance, emergency preparedness, expanding vaccination programs and building human capacity in the health sector,” the same source continued.
He stressed the importance of “strengthening international partnerships and coordinating efforts among North African countries,” while highlighting the need to “share successful experiences, particularly Algeria’s pioneering work in epidemic control and health crisis management.” The two sides also explored “prospects for cooperation in pharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturing in coordination with the Ministry of Pharmaceutical Industry, which would help advance Africa’s self-sufficiency in this sector,” according to the statement.
They further discussed a bilateral working paper that was agreed upon, aimed at expanding and strengthening cooperation, especially in reinforcing epidemic surveillance systems and developing training programs for disease prevention and response.
For his part, Ait Messaoudan noted that “African cooperation on early warning systems and disease surveillance is a top priority for strengthening health security across the continent.” He highlighted “Algeria’s initiative to establish the International Center for Vaccination and Prevention of Tropical Diseases in Tamanrasset, which represents a significant addition serving the African Sahel region and providing a platform for cooperation among African countries.” The minister reaffirmed “Algeria’s commitment to supporting continental initiatives to improve public health and to actively participating in Africa CDC activities, mirroring the country’s dedication to integrating the African dimension into its health policy.” (APS) 60868/864/200
