A landmark summit held in Addis Ababa this month – Africa’s first event dedicated to fungal diseases – concluded with a multi-stakeholder commitment to strengthen surveillance, capacity building, access to diagnostics and treatment across the continent.
Co-hosted by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the Global Action for Fungal Infections (GAFFI), the event brought together researchers, clinicians, policymakers, health activists and funders to address what experts increasingly describe as a silent epidemic affecting millions of people worldwide, with Africa bearing a disproportionately high burden.
Fungal infections remain a major public health challenge across the continent, contributing to nearly half of Aids-related deaths and complicate diseases like TB, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and cancer.
Fungal keratitis is also a leading cause of blindness. In addition, millions suffer from common skin infections, including zoonotic strains that are becoming more virulent, easily transmitted and increasingly resistant to treatment.
A 2022 survey by GAFFI and Africa CDC revealed severe gaps in the availability and accessibility of essential diagnostics for fungal diseases across 48 African Union Member States, leading to delayed diagnoses and preventable deaths.
Experts also highlighted growing concerns about superficial fungal infections driven by newer drug-resistant strains, as well as the emerging threat of Candida auris, which is spreading in several regions.
Participants at the summit agreed to enhance collaboration in research and development (R&D), capacity building, surveillance and clinical care, and committed to aligning continental initiatives with the forthcoming WHO Fungal Priority Pathogens List (FPPL) Blueprint, while adapting these priorities to Africa’s unique contexts to strengthen diagnosis, monitoring and treatment outcomes across the continent.
A recurring theme was the importance of engaging African stakeholders, including civil society and frontline community specialists, in designing effective responses.
“The way forward calls for patient‑centred, priority‑driven and impact‑focused collaboration, supported by networks that build and leverage capacity through a hub‑and‑spoke model. It also requires innovative, sustainable local financing for R&D and healthcare to strengthen Africa’s ability to address these diseases, a major cause of morbidity and mortality,” said Dr Elvis Temfack, Africa CDC’s Head of Division, R&D and Clinical Trials Co-ordination
“This summit has set a new course for collective action across the continent,” said Emma Orefuwa, GAFFI’s Africa Lead. “We are laying the groundwork for stronger partnerships, improved diagnostic capacity and expanded access to treatment – all essential to reducing the preventable burden of fungal infections in Africa.”
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Silent epidemic of deadly fungal infections in Africa
CDC reports a rise in multidrug-resistant fungus
Free State doctors identify first SA case of novel fungal infection