AFRICA CDC COMBINE EFFORTS TO BUILD RESILIENT MORTALITY SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS

  

Centres for Disease Control and Prevention-Africa CDC has called on governments, health institutions, and the international community to join forces in building resilient mortality surveillance systems. 

Africa CDC Director General Jean Kaseya says the COVID-19 pandemic was a wakeup call for Africa to understand the urgency of investing in global health security and pandemic preparedness.

Dr Kaseya has reiterated that the Continental Framework for Mortality Surveillance serves as a comprehensive blueprint for the successful and sustainable implementation of Sample Registration Systems among African Union Member States. 

Dr Kaseya said the Framework is perfectly aligned with the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics agenda for the African continent.

He said in a speech delivered on his behalf by Africa CDC Regional Director for Southern Africa Lul Riek, during the opening session of the Collection of Vital Events Information through Sample Registration Systems-COVERS Workshop in Lusaka.

And Zambia National Public Health Institute -ZNPHI Director General Roma Chilengi says despite the significant strides made in strengthening the

Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in Zambia, significant investments are still required to meet the legal and public health demands.

Professor Chilengi also Presidential Advisor on Health, has however said that in the interim, complementary sources of vital event information are required to meet the surveillance requirements for public health systems.

Meanwhile, USAID Zambia Country Director Amy Cunningham, says the 2020 Census of population and housing undertaken by the Zambian government included an important component of mortality.

Ms Cunningham, has further disclosed that the mortality report will be published sometime this year. 

She explained that the report will provide the country with rich information regarding the deaths that occurred 12 months prior to the census exercise and that it will include Maternal mortality, COVID-19, Mortality registration with Department of National Registration Passports and Citizenship in Zambia among other areas.