NPHI Models and Sub-Regional Co-ordination for SADC
1
South African Medical Association, Pretoria, South Africa
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A3287
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT:
1.
INTRODUCTION:
The recent global health crises have underscored the critical need for regional health security mechanisms that are driven and owned by the countries they serve. For the SADC region, this means strengthening National Public Health Institutions (NPHIs) and formalising their coordination to collectively manage transboundary threats. This roundtable goes beyond technical assessment to a strategic, policy-level conversation, bringing together key perspectives to debate the best models for NPHI establishment and the structures for sustained sub-regional collaboration within the SADC and AU frameworks. 2. Proposed Outline: This 60-minute, policy-oriented roundtable brings together senior public health leaders and technical experts from SADC Member States, the African Union (AU), Africa CDC Regional Collaborating Centres (RCCs), and established national public health agencies. The session will interrogate strategic choices and governance trade-offs that shape NPHI effectiveness, autonomous statutory agencies, networked models, and departmental models housed within Ministries of Health. Panelists will examine what “fit-for-purpose” means in the SADC context, including implications for legal mandates, independence and accountability, workforce development, data governance and interoperable surveillance, emergency operations, and cross-border coordination. 3. Expected Outcomes • A High-Level Consensus Statement on the recommended principles for NPHI governance and a roadmap for SADC sub-regional collaboration. • Identification of Mentorship/Twin-ship Opportunities between established Global South NPHIs and developing SADC NPHIs. • A Clear Mandate for the SADC Secretariat and Africa CDC RCC to pursue specific, agreed-upon regional collaboration projects (e.g., a SADC Public Health Training Initiative). 4. Conclusion Health security across Africa and LMICs will only be realised if we utilise health diplomacy to build strong and resilient public health institutions that improve real-time governance, information and knowledge sharing, and collective action to advance and safeguard the health of the continent, further reinforcing resilient health systems and policies that are practical and sustainable across Africa.
1.
INTRODUCTION:
The recent global health crises have underscored the critical need for regional health security mechanisms that are driven and owned by the countries they serve. For the SADC region, this means strengthening National Public Health Institutions (NPHIs) and formalising their coordination to collectively manage transboundary threats. This roundtable goes beyond technical assessment to a strategic, policy-level conversation, bringing together key perspectives to debate the best models for NPHI establishment and the structures for sustained sub-regional collaboration within the SADC and AU frameworks. 2. Proposed Outline: This 60-minute, policy-oriented roundtable brings together senior public health leaders and technical experts from SADC Member States, the African Union (AU), Africa CDC Regional Collaborating Centres (RCCs), and established national public health agencies. The session will interrogate strategic choices and governance trade-offs that shape NPHI effectiveness, autonomous statutory agencies, networked models, and departmental models housed within Ministries of Health. Panelists will examine what “fit-for-purpose” means in the SADC context, including implications for legal mandates, independence and accountability, workforce development, data governance and interoperable surveillance, emergency operations, and cross-border coordination. 3. Expected Outcomes • A High-Level Consensus Statement on the recommended principles for NPHI governance and a roadmap for SADC sub-regional collaboration. • Identification of Mentorship/Twin-ship Opportunities between established Global South NPHIs and developing SADC NPHIs. • A Clear Mandate for the SADC Secretariat and Africa CDC RCC to pursue specific, agreed-upon regional collaboration projects (e.g., a SADC Public Health Training Initiative). 4. Conclusion Health security across Africa and LMICs will only be realised if we utilise health diplomacy to build strong and resilient public health institutions that improve real-time governance, information and knowledge sharing, and collective action to advance and safeguard the health of the continent, further reinforcing resilient health systems and policies that are practical and sustainable across Africa.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
