The Government of Nigeria and the African Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), have signed the West Africa Regional Collaborating Centre (RCC), Hosting Agreement.

The signing ceremony was held on Friday in Abuja, on the sideline of the 25th ordinary meeting of the ECOWAS Assembly of Health Ministers.

The agreement was formalised by Dr Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, and Prof. Ali Pate, Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Works.

According to Kaseya, the collaboration marks a significant milestone in the mission to enhance health security across the African continent.

He said that the agreement represents a critical step in actualising an ‘Africa CDC without walls’.

He said that the strategic importance of RCCs in decentralising health support and resources across Africa could not be overemphasised.

“The move will make health interventions more accessible and efficient,” he said.

HE said that the establishment of the West Africa RCC was a testament to proactive leadership and Nigeria’s commitment to regional health.

“The RCCs are designed to support Africa CDC’s strategic work plan; they will reinforce health security from a decentralised point of need,” he said.

Pate said that Nigeria’s hosting of the RCC underscored its dedication to strengthening continental health frameworks and responding robustly to health emergencies.

He said that it was a critical opportunity to enhance the region’s health.

The minister said that the collaborative effort aims to bring Africa CDC’s vision of a continent protected from health threats closer to reality.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the signing was made possible through discussions Africa CDC had with Pate during their brief visit to Nigeria in October 2023.

The need to establish the Africa CDC was initially stressed in January 2014 at the 22nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The establishment of the Africa CDC was endorsed at the 24th Ordinary Session in January 2015, with a request for practical modalities for its operationalisation.

The RCCs of the Africa CDC will support the execution of its strategic work plan, ultimately bringing into reality an “Africa CDC without walls” that will support the continent at the point of need, rather than from a centralised, distant location.

Nigeria’s hosting of the RCC underscores its dedication to strengthening continental health frameworks and responding robustly to health emergencies.

This collaborative effort aims to bring Africa CDC’s vision of a continent protected from health threats closer to reality.

The RCC will focus on five key areas outlined by the Africa CDC that include disease surveillance and early warning systems.

Other areas include improving the ability of health systems to detect, monitor and respond to disease outbreaks through advanced surveillance technologies, data analytics and healthcare worker training.

It is also expected to build resilient health system, develop robust healthcare infrastructures to manage diseases, improve access to essential services, expand immunisation and ensure sufficient medical supplies and personnel.

It will also promote research and innovation and support scientific research to tackle health threats in Africa by encouraging collaborations among research institutions, academia and the private sector to create new diagnostics, treatments and vaccines.

Other areas include strengthening regional collaboration and coordination, enhancing cooperation among African countries to harmonise health policies, share best practices, and coordinate responses during health emergencies through regional networks and joint training exercises.