The Africa CDC Guidance for Strengthening NCDI-MH Surveillance Systems: The role of HIS assessments

Abstract Deaths due to NCDs, injuries and mental health conditions are expected to at least triple by 2063 in the region of the African Union. Population-based data for NCDI/MH and their determinants remain scarce in many AU MS; therefore, NCDI/MH surveillance is a flagship initiative in the Africa CDC NCDI/MH Strategy. In a survey conducted by Africa CDC and RKI in 2022 on the impact of COVID-19 on NCDI/MH in 10 AU MS, countries signaled the need for a continental guidance document. In 2023, Africa CDC and RKI performed desk reviews and facilitated peer-to-peer multi-country HIS assessment workshops, based on modified WHO and IANPHI tools. The first workshop took place in Zambia with experts from Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo/DRC, Kenya and Zambia. The second workshop was hosted in Ghana and included DRC, Ghana, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal and Sierra Leone. Participants came i.a. from ministries of health, national public health institutes or academia. The process included a virtual introductory meeting as well as half-day training sessions at the physical meeting for participants to familiarize themselves with the tools. Peer-to-peer assessment sessions took place on days 2 and 3. Day 4 was reserved for site visits to (public) health institutions of the hosting countries. On day 5, participants presented their findings to the plenary, which included high-level representations from host countries. The combined results from the survey, desk reviews and workshops informed the development of the continental Africa CDC Guidance for strengthening surveillance for NCDI/MH, launched at the 3rd Conference on Public Health in Africa. In four chapters, the Guidance covers recommendations on indicators, data sources and data types; surveillance system capacities; surveillance integration with existing systems; and data use. Implementation of the Guidance, including development of core health indicators, has been initiated by Africa CDC in 2024.