European Union and Africa foster closer ties to fight dangerous diseases
The launch of the second phase of the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) in Cape Town today, 2 December marks an important milestone in Africa's efforts to combat the continent's burden of disease.
The programme will see South Africa (under the leadership of the Department of Science and Technology), several African nations and the European Union co-investing over the next 10 years to harness health innovation. The launch of the EDCTP2 extends the EU's collaborative research support for the development of new or improved interventions to prevent or treat HIV, TB, malaria and non-communicable diseases in sub-Saharan Africa.
Newly appointed EU Commissioner for Research and Innovation, Carlos Moedas, said that there was a need to build and strengthen African health institutions. He said that the launch of EDCTP 2 heralded an exciting phase in the EU's partnership with Africa.
"I am delighted that today, alongside our partners and South Africa, we are launching a second phase of the EDCTP programme. In view of the great dangers infectious diseases continue to pose, it is essential that we continue to invest in medical and vaccine research. With an increased investment of some R28 billion, the EDCTP2 will do just that," he said.
Addressing the launch conference, the Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor, emphasised the need for training and strengthening African research partnerships. "Our aim is to boost research and innovation in Africa. We cannot thrive in isolation. We need to be part of a vibrant African research and innovation system," the Minister told the conference.
The EU established the EDCTP in 2003 with 15 member states. The partnership aims to accelerate the development of new drugs, vaccines, microbicides and diagnostics for diseases such as HIV, TB and malaria, with a focus on clinical trials in sub-Saharan Africa.
The first phase supported 246 projects, involving 190 African and 70 European countries, with a total investment of €383 million. A hundred of the 246 projects were clinical trials (30 on HIV/AIDS, 27 on TB, nine on TB/HIV co-infections, and 34 on malaria). Over 100 000 research participants were involved.
Africa accounts for less than 1% of global health expenditure, but carries 25% of the world's burden of disease. The intertwined scourges of poverty, malnutrition and infectious diseases are compounded by limited access to affordable, effective, safe and quality medicines and diagnostic tools.
Minister Pandor called for stronger co-ownership by governments in Africa, not only to build research in Africa, but also to enhance the continent's profile as a technology partner for Europe.
"Co-ownership also means co-investment. Africa is committed to and is increasing investment in research, innovation and partnership frameworks such as the EDCTP to create an opportunity to leverage an even greater return on these investments," said Minister Pandor.
Leading Cameroonian biotechnologist, Prof. Rose Leke, who also addressed the conference, called on the EDCTP to create an environment that would encourage African scientists to stay on the continent. While the EDCTP had been instrumental in building, renovating and equipping laboratories and health facilities, Prof. Leke said some facilities had closed down after funding had expired.
"The support provided by the EDCTP should be long term, and matched with a realistic, sustainable, local plan that ensures proper functioning beyond the EDCTP," said Prof. Leke.
Prof. Peter Piot, Director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who was part of the team that discovered the Ebola virus in 1976, also attended the event. He said that it was important for the continent to build its capacity in order to tackle and contain epidemics like Ebola. He said thousands of people had died in three Western African countries because there was no infrastructure to deal with outbreaks like Ebola.
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