Addis Ababa: A year into the mpox outbreak, the situation has escalated from affecting seven to 26 countries across Africa. The outbreak is complicated by four distinct clades and several sub-strains, with the latest identified earlier this year. Clade I, in particular, is linked to higher mortality rates and severe illness, while Clade IIB, which is sexually transmissible, is driving the outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. This ongoing crisis highlights the critical need for timely and comprehensive knowledge to effectively respond to the outbreak.
According to African Press Organization, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is preparing to launch the Africa Health Knowledge Management Portal, a dynamic and collaborative platform designed as a central hub for health data, research, and policy insights. The portal will enable Africa CDC, its five Regional Coordinating Centres (RCCs), and African Union (AU) Member States to generate and access knowledge, transforming resources into actionable public health policies. Dr. Nebiyu, a representative from Africa CDC, emphasized that the knowledge management system will enhance pandemic preparedness and response efforts among Member States.
Dr. Mosoka Papa Fallah, Acting Director of Science and Innovation at Africa CDC, stated that the portal is not just a repository but a smart system aimed at catalyzing evidence-based decision-making and empowering national health systems. The portal's features include AI-powered multilingual translation, intelligent search tools, an interactive chatbot, and real-time document comparison. These innovations are designed to facilitate easy access to public health information for users ranging from policymakers to frontline health workers.
The portal will be established at three levels: continental, regional, and Member State, hosted by Africa CDC to facilitate knowledge exchange across all 55 Member States. Regional knowledge management portals will be managed by each RCC, while Member States will have the option to host their own portals or link to the continental platform. The initiative, supported by the Rockefeller Foundation and the Mastercard Foundation, aims to create a continent-wide network for free knowledge flow.
Pilot implementations are underway, showcasing how countries can adapt the platform to local needs while contributing to continental knowledge sharing. Africa CDC will support Member States in training knowledge managers, establishing national teams, and building sustainable governance frameworks. The portal also fosters a culture of knowledge sharing through innovations like Knowledge Hours and Communities of Practice.
The knowledge management portal is a strategic response to Africa's pressing need for robust health systems amid frequent disease outbreaks. It aligns with Africa CDC's New Public Health Order and aims to support AU Member States in strengthening health systems and responding to emergencies.