Africa must build epidemic preparedness before the next outbreak

What the report says

Health experts quoted by Nile Post say Africa’s readiness for future epidemics will depend less on the number of researchers it trains and more on how quickly health systems can detect outbreaks, run studies and turn evidence into decisions. The comments were made as Uganda and 10 other African and European institutions launched a five-year initiative focused on clinical trials and epidemic preparedness.

At the center of the discussion is the Advancing Clinical Trials and Epidemic Preparedness Research Capacity in Africa (SCTREP) programme, which Ministry of Health officials and university leaders say should help build faster, more coordinated responses to health emergencies. Dr Daniel Kyabayinze of Uganda’s Ministry of Health said the project must prove its value by improving outbreak detection, research speed and policy action. He also stressed that research should involve government from the start so findings can be used in public health planning.

Prof Rhoda Wanyenze of Makerere University said Africa still faces a major gap in clinical trial capacity despite carrying a heavy burden of disease outbreaks. She pointed to shortages in laboratories, skilled staff, infrastructure and regulatory systems, noting that delays can force samples to be tested abroad. The programme is expected to train more than 10,000 scientists, students and health workers, while also upgrading laboratories and supporting ethics and surveillance systems.

Makerere Vice Chancellor Prof Barnabas Nawangwe said the broader goal should be for Africa to become a producer, not just a consumer, of health research. The initiative includes partnerships with institutions in Germany, Uganda, South Sudan, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, with supporters saying its success will be judged by whether the capacity remains after the five-year funding period ends.