Approval by CDC-Africa highlights the reliability and effectiveness of this test, potentially reinforcing the role of Morocco in the initiatives of global healthindicates a press release from the Center, based in Addis Ababa.
“This major milestone is in line with the continental effort of theAfrican Union aimed at strengthening the self-sufficiency of African public health systems to improve the continent’s effectiveness in preparing for and responding to health threats. maladies“, adds the same source.
Africa CDC supported Member States through this continental plan by procuring and delivering health kits tests PCR and of genomic sequencingas well as cartridges GeneXpertrecalls the press release, indicating that it also trained Member States on the collection and transport of samples, biosecurity and biological safetyas well as on the molecular tests for the Mpox.
The Africa CDC DAC offered essential advice to Member States, recommending specific testing of RT-PCR for their purchase and use – advisory support which has proven valuable for national strategies of screeningaccording to the same source.
CDC-Africa and theHEARING-NEPAD jointly established the DAC as a quality mechanism to guide the selection, evaluation, validation, verification and adoption of diagnostic technologies of laboratorywhile also facilitating data sharing.
During this Mpox emergency, Africa CDC worked through the DAC to publish two editions of a recommended list of RT-PCR tests for Mpox, the statement said, explaining that the tests on this list followed a process rigorous and systematic, involving an independent review of available evidence.
Tests must meet key criteria defined by the DAC, based on the target product profile of theOMS for Mpox diagnostics, Africa CDC added, noting that the third edition of the recommended list was published on November 12, 2024. This edition includes a locally manufactured PCR detection kit (UM6P-MAScIR MPOX qPCR 1.0), manufactured by mold, Morocco.
The DAC reviewed the evidence for this test based on established criteria, including independent evaluation data from theNational Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB) in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and concluded that it met all the major criteria, underlines the press release, noting that this is a major achievement in the response to Mpox.
The General Director of Moldiag, Nawal Chraibisaid Moldiag is committed to supporting health resilience in Africa through the development of locally manufactured diagnostic tools.
Quoted by the press release, Ms. Chraïbi affirmed that Moldiag believes that strengthening local production is essential to strengthen preparation and response to epidemics on the continent, which makes it possible to respond quickly and effectively to public health challenges. “We are proud to align ourselves with CDC-Africa’s vision of an autonomous and secure Africa in terms of health,” she rejoiced.
The local manufacturing of diagnostics constitutes one of the five strategic pillars of the action framework “A New Public Health Order for Africa”, launched by the African Union through CDC-Africa.
The Director General of CDC-Afrique Jean Kaseya for its part, stressed that the PCR test kit for Mpox, manufactured locally in Morocco, which passed rigorous criteria, recommended by the DAC to appear in the list, testifies that quality medical countermeasures, including including diagnostics, can be made available locally during epidemics.
He congratulated Morocco on this exceptional achievement, encouraging African Union Member States to consider the use of this testing solution as they continue to respond to the Mpox outbreak.
This crucial step will inspire local manufacturers of diagnostics and other outbreak-related products, the statement said, noting that Africa CDC is committed to working with these manufacturers and key stakeholders to ensure that medical products necessary are available for the health security of the continent.
Remember the Mpox epidemic was declared as a Continental Security Public Health Emergency by Africa CDC and a public health emergency of international concern by theWorld Health Organization (WHO).
