Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Gambia is set to benefit significantly from the expansion of the Health Security Partnership to Strengthen Disease Surveillance in Africa (HSPA), a collaborative initiative by the World Health Organization (WHO), Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), and the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).

Announced on Thursday, May 29, 2025, the partnership, which initially launched in 2023 in The Gambia and five other African countries, will extend its second phase from 2025 to 2028, adding Rwanda to its roster.

With Africa experiencing more disease outbreaks than any other region in the world, the HSPA’s expansion promises to bolster The Gambia’s ability to detect, respond to, and manage complex health threats.

The Gambia, along with the other participating countries, stands to gain from improved disease surveillance capacities that link health and security sectors, reducing biological risks and enhancing epidemic intelligence.

“This partnership is about strengthening collaborative surveillance through practical action and mutual exchange,” said Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, acting WHO regional director for Africa. “WHO remains committed to working alongside member states to ensure these collective efforts are well-coordinated and rooted in national priorities.”

For The Gambia, this translates to targeted support for critical health security systems: enhanced biorisk management, event-based and indicator-based surveillance, genomic surveillance, and epidemic intelligence.

Through specialized training, development of tailored guidance, and hands-on technical assistance, The Gambia can expect improvements that align with national health priorities and reinforce long-term sustainability.

Africa CDC Acting Deputy Director General, Dr. Raji Tajudeen, highlighted the importance of regional cooperation.

“The collaboration with other partners and coordination with Member States is crucial, especially in the current context of limited resources to strengthen the continent’s capacity for early detection, response, and management of biological threats,” he noted.

The initiative, supported by the Government of Canada’s Weapons Threat Reduction Program and new funding from the UK Government in phase two, has already proven effective in phase one, helping The Gambia and other participating countries establish stronger disease surveillance foundations.

As The Gambia navigates a landscape marked by emerging biological threats and limited resources, the HSPA’s second phase promises to bolster the nation’s readiness, ultimately contributing to a healthier, safer, and more resilient country—and continent.