Of Christmas, CPHIA, New Public Health Order & New Year Plans

It just so happens that this Christmas Eve 2022, is about one week since I made a summary post on my attendance at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)?International Conference on Public Health in Africa?#CPHIA2022.

Earlier in the year, I resolved to jump-start my #InTheEyesOfMC Blogspot. Something I procrastinated till a mentor reminded me a few days ago to use my new free time to write as I seem to have a knack for it. So here we are, starting off a LinkedIn articles page. For ease of context, reference is made to my Twitter thread of real-time #CPHIA2022 updates and my previous LinkedIn post.

So what is #CPHIA2022 you ask? The website states as follows:

"CPHIA 2022 will provide a unique platform for African researchers, policymakers and stakeholders to come together and share perspectives and research findings in public health while ushering in a new era of strengthened scientific collaboration and innovation across the continent. Building on?CPHIA 2021,?this year’s conference will also serve as a catalyst to build more resilient health systems that allow African countries to better prepare for and manage emerging health threats while also addressing long-standing infectious diseases."

• In a nutshell, if you are passively or actively engaged in #PublicHealthinAfrica #AfricanPublicHealth, then you probably shouldn't be missing this event (whether in person, but YouTube is also your friend)

For me, this year's event was particularly interesting given my interest in matters pandemic preparedness and my various roles on the same e.g. the Platform for ACT-A CSO & Community Reps. I had three questions which needed answers and I will break down if I got the answers I was looking for:

#IntergenerationalSolidarity: What efforts are there in developing African leaders of tomorrow? Specifically, what efforts are there to ensure a 25yr old is just as marketable as their age mates from other regions & that our youth cutoff comes closer to the UN global limit of 25yrs? #AfricanLeadership

• MC got an answer: There was a youth pre-conference preceding the main conference where a considerable number of youth were sponsored to attend not only the pre-conference but also the main conference. In addition, many youths await with bated breath to see if they will be the chosen ones for the Africa CDC Youth Advisory Council?following the postponement of this announcement at the closing ceremony. On a different note, I also got to learn about the Global Health Corps program from Othniel NIMBABAZI (ps: the call is ongoing so do have a look)
• MC's watermelon / key observation 1a: #CPHIA2022 got everything right in meaningful youth engagement. However, in meaningful participation, the jury is still out on this one and this is my rationale: I noticed there was no feedback session on key outcomes of the youth pre-conference (YPC) on day 1 opening ceremony (say a youth communique or summary of key messages from the pre-conference). However, it was the first pre-conference, so the road to adding more components to the program is open.
• MC's watermelon / key observation 1b: I wished the youth has a dedicated plenary as opposed to side events; this would have gone a long way towards meaningful youth participation (here is a Twitter thread I did breaking down the two)
• MC's watermelon / key observation 2: How do the attendees of the #CPHIA2002 YPC and the #AUBingwa (more details below) plug into the efforts of sensitizing the public/communities on the #NewPublicHealthOrder (i.e. preaching to those not converted)
• MC's watermelon / key observation 3: Africa CDC Youth Advisory Council. If anyone has any answer on this one, do share. I am pretty clueless on this topic. I hope those selected will actually do the role justice and those not selected will hold them accountable as they say

every system needs checks and balances

#UHCDay2022: The theme was ask, amplify, act. Healthcare Workers?#HCWs?(with a special bias toward Physicians / Doctors) have been asking & amplifying key commitments made globally, but face great challenges acting on them locally. What tangible solutions do we have to make them greater actors in the health systems they serve, especially with regard to training and development (T&D)?

MC's watermelon / key observation: I noted that the discussion on Primary Healthcare #PHC is quite strong in our region. Unfortunately, even our PHC discussions are leaning more toward equipping facilities then health workforce (T&D) comes afterwards (so building and equipping the supermarket, then hiring workers afterwards). This is interesting as the number of jobless healthcare workers is rising (as we speak, there are about 600 unposted pre-interns in Kenya and about 250 GP-interns who've finished their licensing internship looking for employment).

Catch-22 situation much?

3. Learn more about Africa CDCs efforts towards the?#CPHIA2022?theme, "Preparedness for future Pandemic and Post-Pandemic Recovery: Africa at a Crossroad" #AfricaPrepares

• MC got an answer: I must appreciate that the African Union (AU) launched the COVID-19 Vaccination Bingwa Initiative. A step in the right direction on matters of pandemic preparedness on the vaccination side of things.
• MC did not get an answer: How do these Bingwa champions feed into ongoing efforts of CSOs and Communities; especially on Pandemic Prevention and Preparedness (Vaccination mostly feeds into Response if COVID-19 is anything to go by? )
• MC got an answer: I loved the health diplomacy session as it really broke down what Africa CDC is doing on matters of Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response e.g APPRA- Africa Pandemic Preparedness and Response Authority. If one thing was confirmed to me after the session, it is that COVID-19 brought Africa to the limelight as a hub of solutions and there is a need for knowledge exchange across the globe, especially as the WHO Pandemic prevention, preparedness and response accord is being developed (I also wished this was a dedicated plenary and not side event).

General Observations

Program: Was too packed (7 am to 9 pm Kigali, Time). For the few days I attended, I ended up doing Inky Pinky Ponky (pun intended) to decide which side event I will attend and which one will I try to follow up on post-event (I decided to pick pandemic preparedness-oriented events vs SRHR, Mental Health based ones)

*PS: I only attended the final 2 days and noted this.

Plenaries: The Women in leadership session had a creative debate session which I wish started the session and had more time (cc Dr Ebere Okereke , Dr . Stellah Wairimu Bosire Dr Norah Akong'o Obudho (MD, MPH, PMD, PgMD) , Magda Robalo ). Maybe a time to get creative with our plenaries with more unconventional styles of session run-of-show?

Logistics: The shuttles between venues were a pocket's best friend getting from point A to point B. However, Yego cab and the local Motos (commercial motorbikes) were also easy to shuttle around with (shout out to the CPHIA logistics guide for highlighting Yego cab :) )

Also, the friendly and swift nature of the registration team to process my late registration was well appreciated

All in all, for the first hybrid event and my 6th visit to Kigali, Rwanda, I definitely think that CPHIA should be an event on one's global health calendar of events. Now all roads lead to Zambia for #CPHIA2023

Disclaimer: Rumblings expressed in this article are my own. Feedback is always welcome either via LinkedIn or email

Happy Holiday everyone. The rumblings continue in 2023.