The Global Wastewater and Environmental Surveillance Consortium (GLOWACON) Regional Conference, held on 9th and 10th of December under the auspices of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and HERA, brought together experts, scientists, policymakers, funders, researchers and implementers to chart a course for advancing public health resilience in Africa through wastewater and environmental surveillance (WES). HERA, in collaboration with the Joint Research Centre (JRC), played a pivotal role in shaping discussions and strategies around WES, underscoring its commitment to collaboration, innovation, and global health preparedness.
Focus on Africa’s health resilience
The GLOWACON Regional Conference | Africa provided a critical platform to showcase the potential of WES in strengthening disease surveillance systems across Africa. WES, a method that uses wastewater to monitor and predict public health trends, has proven effective in detecting outbreaks such as polio and COVID-19. The conference highlighted how integrating WES into health systems can bolster disease detection, preparedness, and response.
The two-day event opened with remarks from global health leaders, including representatives from the European Commission who reaffirmed the Union’s commitment to enhancing Africa’s health systems through strategic partnerships.
Plenary sessions were facilitated by representatives from HERA, JRC and Africa CDC, and were combined with dynamic discussions in breakout sessions organised and facilitated by various GLOWACON partners, such as the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC), the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Turkish Water Institute (SUEN), Institut Pasteur Dakar, and Institut Pasteur Tunis. The conference provided a comprehensive picture of the impressive WES initiatives and programmes that are being implemented throughout the African continent.
Spotlight on innovation and collaboration
The conference highlighted the contributions of African researchers and health leaders, showcasing innovative WES projects in countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ghana, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, and others. Discussions also explored WES applications in aviation and strategic locations, emphasising its role in monitoring disease transmission across borders.
Interactive components, including tabletop exercises, allowed participants to practice translating WES data into actionable strategies. These exchanges facilitated cross-disciplinary collaboration and underscored the value of integrating WES into broader public health frameworks.
HERA’s broader impact: collaborative projects with WHO and UNEP
Prior to the conference, HERA participated in the kick-off meeting for the projects funded by HERA and implemented by the WHO and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) aimed at developing support strategies, capacity and data for global wastewater and environmental surveillance.
The projects are designed to significantly enhance global health security by advancing the use of wastewater and environmental surveillance systems on a worldwide scale. These initiatives aim to bolster disease detection and response capabilities in low-resource settings, where public health systems often face considerable challenges.
A critical component of this effort is capacity building, with a focus on equipping regions most susceptible to health threats with the tools and expertise necessary to safeguard their populations. Equally important is the emphasis on promoting transparency and fostering collaboration in data sharing. These measures ensure that timely, informed decisions can be made, enhancing the collective ability of global health networks to manage and mitigate risks.
While WHO’s implementation spans multiple regions, including Africa, Southeast Asia, and Europe, UNEP’s activities are concentrated exclusively within Africa.
These initiatives build on HERA’s contribution of EUR 6.8 million from the EU4Health programme 2024 and represent a key element of GLOWACON’s vision to establish a comprehensive global sentinel surveillance system, a critical step toward improving public health resilience worldwide.
HERA’s vision for global health security
GLOWACON underscores HERA’s commitment to address both European and global public health needs, reflecting a broader effort to shape the future of health resilience on an international scale. The strengthened collaboration between Africa and Europe paves the way for continued progress toward a healthier and more resilient world.
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Details
- Publication date
- 11 December 2024
- Author
- Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority