Researchers and epidemiologists reflect on disease prevention and response strategies

---

Extract from the article: Togo hosted an international congress on epidemiology and public health on 15 and 16 March 2023. The event was held under the theme « Public health in the face of emerging and re-emerging diseases ». For two days, researchers and health experts from

---

Togo hosted an international congress on epidemiology and public health on 15 and 16 March 2023. The event was held under the theme « Public health in the face of emerging and re-emerging diseases ». For two days, researchers and health experts from several countries examined current public health challenges related to emerging and re-emerging diseases. The proceedings were officially launched by Professor Majesty Ihou Wateba, Minister of Higher Education and Research.

The congress was organised by the Association des Epidémiologistes de Langue Française (ADELF) and the Association pour le développement de l'épidémiologie de terrain (EPITER), in collaboration with the University of Lomé (UL) through its Centre de Formation et de Recherche en Santé Publique (CFRSP), and its Department of Public Health (DSP). It is the largest francophone scientific event in the field of epidemiology and public health.

For Professor Didier Ekouevi, president of the organising committee, it is a question of reflecting on the different prevention strategies in order to limit new diseases in the communities. These diseases have important socio-economic consequences. « Every year, there are about a hundred threats linked to emerging and re-emerging diseases. Currently in Equatorial Guinea, we have the Marburg virus which is an emerging disease that causes a lot of deaths. When you have 100 patients who are affected by this disease, 40 will die. In Ghana we also have what is called Lassa fever, which is a viral haemorrhagic fever and is also an emerging disease. An emerging disease is a new disease like covid-19 and re-emerging diseases are diseases that have already existed that have disappeared and are reappearing again. The idea of this congress is to be able to reflect on and discuss different prevention strategies to limit these different diseases », explains Prof. Didier Ekouevi.

For Fatoumata Binta Tidiane Diallo, WHO Resident Representative in Togo, these diseases continue to defy the scientific world and undermine the health of populations and health systems. In the WHO African Region alone, there are more than 100 health emergencies each year, most of which are related to emerging and re-emerging diseases. And about 1/3 of the world's population is affected by an infectious disease each year.

The meeting enabled French-speaking public health specialists to take stock of the current situation of emerging and re-emerging diseases in the world, and particularly in Africa, in a multidisciplinary approach and to discuss ways to strengthen the health system.

The two-day meeting was marked by oral sessions on major infections (tuberculosis, HIV, malaria), COVID-19, other emerging diseases and epidemiological surveillance, mother and child health, and non-communicable diseases.

There will also be a symposium on the theme: « Building together and implementing an equitable research partnership to prevent and respond to emergencies » and a round table on the theme: « The place of public health in the implementation of universal health coverage ».

At the end of this congress, the scientific community will propose to governments solutions that respond to the real needs of populations for the constitution of resilient health systems.

Elom AKAKPO