Africa CDC - IPG leverages existing infrastructure in Africa and links these assets with the Africa CDC coordinating platforms, i.e. its five RCCs, RISLNET, and Member States NPHIs. Technical assistance is delivered through the five strategic pillars of Africa CDC: surveillance & disease intelligence, emergency preparedness and response, laboratory systems and networks, information systems, and public health research.
Guiding principles
Integration of pathogen genomics networks and systems: there is a need to integrate pathogen genomics across disease programs.
Country context and ownership: Member States context and ownership are fundamental principles of the Africa CDC IPG.
System-focused - an understanding of what the system can deliver and consideration of how a change within one system domain will impact, interact with, and change the other domains and affect the public health system as a whole.
Partnerships - Africa CDC IPG recognizes that partnerships are essential to achieve the common goal of strengthening pathogen genomics capacity and systems in Africa.
Consultative, efficient, and quality programs - The demand for pathogen genomics and bioinformatics capacity to meet the sequencing needs for COVID-19, has helped drive investments. This network and systems should be harnessed and optimized to serve the needs of other diseases of public health importance.
Flexible to keep up with scientific advances - IPG's implementation will contain the flexibility to adapt to the evolving nature of pathogen genomics and bioinformatics technology.
Identify priority areas - considers prioritizing the pathogens, policy issues, and challenges that need to be addressed and identifies opportunities for action and areas that require further work.