North Africa & Sahel Online Regional Meeting
The MediLabSecure North Africa & Sahel Regional Meeting took place online on November 30th from 11 AM to 1 PM (UTC+2).
Bringing together 40 experts specializing in human and animal virology, medical entomology, public health and veterinary services from the region's 8 countries members of the network, the event focused on the theme of "One Health initiatives in the fight against vector-borne diseases." This meeting aimed to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and spotlight the importance of collaborative efforts across sectors in combating emerging vector-borne diseases in the region.
The agenda included a presentation by Dr. Florence Fouque, Scientist, and Focal Point for vectors at TDR (Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases)/WHO (World Health Organization). Her keynote, "Arboviral Epidemiologic Situation in the North Africa & Sahel Regions: Challenges and Recommendations," provided valuable insights to address arboviral diseases in the region.
The meeting also featured a segment on "One Health Country Experience Sharing," where Dr. Wasfi Fares, one of our Call for Leadership Initiative awardee, shared insights into his initiative establishing a regional multidisciplinary team for West Nile Virus (WNV) surveillance.
Additionally, members shared their experiences in operationalizing the One Health approach within their respective countries. This segment enriched the meeting by presenting practical examples of One Health approaches in action, showcasing the collaborative efforts of these countries in establishing effective surveillance mechanisms.
