Africa Environmental Surveillance Landscaping project -Where Novelty met Ubuntu

The World Health Organization recognizes Environmental surveillance as one of the novel ways in which emerging epidemics can be detected early. Amongst methods for environmental surveillance is analysis of wastewater for strains of pathogens that can cause disease and epidemics. This method became popular for detecting and monitoring the SARS-COV-2 virus by testing wastewater from the sewerage system and other wastewater sites in our environment. Before COVID-19, this method of environmental surveillance was more popular for detecting polioviruses.

Given the Global health security concerns, wastewater surveillance is becoming prevalent for multiple pathogens detection, even before disease outbreaks are unleashed on populations, as an early warning mechanism. Following an outbreak of polio in Malawi, 2022, it was necessary to undertake a mapping of the laboratory capacity on the continent for testing pathogens as a springboard for emergency surveillance surge capacity.

In 2022, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation identified PATH to undertake an Environmental Surveillance laboratory landscaping across Africa. An open-access catalogue of this capacity is the deliverable to be shared with the world to enable all stakeholders to quickly identify partners close to sites where emerging epidemics are suspected so that confirmation can quickly be made and control measures rapidly mounted. The Landscaping is now available, and Novel-T, a firm contracted by BMGF, and has been doing global open-access cataloguing for the Foundation, is setting up the interactive catalogue for open public access.

This novelty will soon enable stakeholders in the Environmental surveillance space in Africa to coordinate and network better with counterparts on the continent and those from elsewhere across the globe.

As the responsible project officer, it has been inspiring to see how, in various ways, this project has unearthed “Ubuntu” displayed by several of the project team. It is not uncommon to find projects on the continent managed and effected from miles off the continent in air-conditioned offices by project team members that have as much information about Africa as the two to three-week technical visits that their schedules can accord them. For this project, the focal point, David, handed it over to the Africa team and gave oversight, allowing capacity to be built on the continent. Wherever possible, he was available to bail us out and support us in achieving success. Another colleague, Linda, assigned herself the project advisory role and proceeded to steer us to success, while choosing to take no credit for it, in a world rife with territorialism.

The donor focal point, too, happened to be one who chose to be a human being. It is not unheard of to have several sleepless nights trying to figure out how to navigate a request for a no-cost extension. An email explanation and a request were always sufficient under this project: no complex explanations and voluminous paperwork. Vince chose to be a humane partner and not a demi-god. Another donor, Megan, offered to be a bottlenecks solver. I now have an additional trick or two to get past bottlenecks!

As the closeout proceeded, it was necessary to set up a webinar, and Mikka Nyarko was loaned to the project to pull off one of the most successful webinars I have been privileged to facilitate to date. Mikka is this meek, gentle, courteous, and kind soul. She easily took the project Angel position, unopposed! In life, every project needs a Mikka.

I have never been prouder of my brothers and sisters at Africa CDC (Dr. Yenew, Dr. Ashenafi, Dr. Emily Atuheire, Dr. Hloniphile Mabuka, Dr. Mukhlid ) plus Kariko, the voiceless and priceless "lady behind the camera"; and World Health Organization (WHO) Geneva’s - Dr. Ousman Diop; and WHO Afro’s Drs. Jimoh Abdullateef and Abdullahi Hamisu plus over 400 stakeholders across Africa that volunteered information towards this novel work and of course the 80 plus guests that attended the dissemination webinar. It took Ubuntu to fill in those survey tools diligently and refer contacts. The core team, Joseph, Sophie, the consultants (Paul Tendeng, Susan Maina, Fred Njobvu and Fatma Guerfali, your work went beyond the call of duty. We also endeavored to leave capacity beyond what we had already by intentionally getting 3 inters onboard. Kudos to Elizabeth, Benjamin and Crispus. The Uganda team that was the secretariat to this work, Dr. Betty, Tom, Grace, Joyce (and Baby ES) you made us proud. Thanks for hanging in there. Our phenomenal, one-of-a-kind Data specialist Jonathan Ejoku, you all nailed this one. Congratulations!

The Africa regional Management team and the Chief of Africa Dr. Nanthalile Mugala, indeed we are, because you are!

As we close out this project, the lessons in Ubuntu from various team players stand out as an inspiration that even as we undertake complex projects and carry out our duties, we can observe "Ubuntu". It takes nothing away from us to be courteous. Do to others what you would have them do to you. Be respectful, whatever your position. It takes nothing away from you and only adds value to who you are. It is unnerving sometimes to see the behaviour of those on the continent that is the cradle of "Ubuntu" choosing to act worse than those we accuse of colonization. The recolonization of Africa by Africans is the saddest thing to see. I choose to borrow a tree from those who showed respect to me and other project stakeholders, embodying Bishop Desmond Tutu’s Mantra: "I am because you are.” Once you see me acting otherwise, you have my express permission to bring this to my attention, and please observe “Ubuntu”, while at it!

Do join me in the quest to combine novelty and Ubuntu, in whatever we do.

The late Bishop left us a priceless legacy. Once upon a time, “Ubuntu” is what and who we were as Africans. It was an integral part of our genetic makeup and DNA. It did not matter that there was a famine. We always looked out for each other. No one took advantage of the other. Not sure where things went wrong. I pray that I will intentionally model "Ubuntu" and make every place, person and project I interact with in this global health space, better. Will you join me?

Yes, Together, We can!

PS: For the report, catalogue and publication, watch the space for updates

I dedicate this article to Joy T, Ruth and Marvin to assist me carry on to future generations what your Grandpa the indomitable late Rtn. Charles Hannington Sam Kiwanuka and his late Ann, Anne, Ida, Irene Kiwanuka bequeathed us and generations to come.