WAHO Strengthens Regional Health Knowledge Sharing to Improve Disease Response Across West Africa

WAHO Strengthens Regional Health Knowledge Sharing to Improve Disease Response Across West Africa

By: Michael Mike

The West African Health Organisation (WAHO) has intensified efforts to strengthen the sharing of health knowledge and evidence across the ECOWAS region, unveiling new measures aimed at improving disease surveillance, research collaboration and evidence-based policymaking among member states.

The regional health body said enhancing the production, dissemination and use of health information has become increasingly critical as West Africa continues to contend with recurrent disease outbreaks, climate-related health threats and growing pressure on national health systems.

Speaking at a regional knowledge-sharing initiative in Lomé, Togo, WAHO officials stressed that stronger collaboration among researchers, policymakers and health institutions is essential for building resilient health systems capable of responding rapidly to emerging public health emergencies.

According to the organisation, many valuable research findings generated across the region often fail to influence government policies because they are not effectively communicated to decision-makers or shared among countries.

WAHO noted that improving access to reliable health information would enable governments to make informed decisions, strengthen disease prevention programmes and improve healthcare delivery for more than 400 million people living within the ECOWAS bloc.

The organisation is therefore promoting stronger partnerships among ministries of health, universities, research institutions, documentation centres and technical partners to bridge the gap between scientific evidence and public policy.

The initiative also seeks to encourage countries to exchange experiences, best practices and innovations that have proven effective in tackling health challenges ranging from infectious diseases to maternal and child health.

Officials said regional cooperation is particularly important because disease outbreaks do not respect national borders, making coordinated action indispensable for effective prevention and response.

WAHO explained that its strategy focuses on strengthening national health information systems, improving research capacity, developing regional documentation networks and expanding mechanisms for the regular dissemination and use of scientific evidence.

The organisation has already supported the development of regional health information policies and strategies, established platforms for sharing health information, linked health documentation centres across ECOWAS countries and provided funding for priority health research projects.

However, it acknowledged that significant challenges remain, including delays in reporting surveillance data, underutilisation of existing information platforms and limited capacity in some countries to produce timely epidemiological reports.

Health experts at the meeting observed that addressing these gaps would strengthen the region’s preparedness for future epidemics and improve coordination during health emergencies.

WAHO Director-General Dr. Melchior Aïssi has consistently maintained that regional integration in healthcare depends not only on stronger infrastructure and workforce development but also on the effective sharing of knowledge and harmonisation of standards across ECOWAS member states.

The renewed emphasis on knowledge management aligns with broader regional reforms undertaken by WAHO, including the harmonisation of health training curricula, digital health strategies, disease surveillance systems and research governance frameworks.

Established in 1987 as the specialised health institution of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), WAHO is mandated to coordinate regional health policies and strengthen cooperation among the bloc’s 15 member states. Over the years, the organisation has played a leading role in coordinating responses to major public health threats, including Ebola, Lassa fever, COVID-19 and Mpox, while promoting stronger health systems and greater regional integration.

WAHO Strengthens Regional Health Knowledge Sharing to Improve Disease Response Across West Africa