A national capacity-building workshop for the national Lassa fever task force opened on 30 March in Conakry and will run until 1 April 2026.
This initiative is part of regional efforts to strengthen preparedness and response to Lassa fever, which remains a recurring public health threat in West Africa, with a high risk of cross-border outbreaks and a significant impact on health systems.
The workshop brings together members of the national task force, represented by Dr Sory CONDÉ, health authorities, technical and financial partners, researchers, civil society and the media, in an inclusive and coordinated approach to epidemic management.
This workshop represents an important step in ensuring that Guinea not only strengthens its response to ongoing outbreaks, but also proactively prepares for the introduction of Lassa fever vaccines and other emerging innovations.
This workshop is both timely and strategic. It offers a unique opportunity to:
- Strengthen the institutional capacity and functioning of the national Lassa fever task force;
- Strengthen coordination among key stakeholders;
- Improve preparedness for the introduction of Lassa fever vaccines and other innovations;
- Promote a multisectoral “One Health” approach; and
- Share experiences, best practices and lessons learned in Guinea and abroad.
The Director General of WAHO, Dr Melchior Athanase AISSI, stated in his address that no single institution can, on its own, address the complexity of Lassa fever. It is only through collaboration, coordination and collective action that we will be able to build stronger and more resilient systems.
Pooling our efforts in solidarity and partnership will strengthen our collective capacity to prevent, detect and effectively combat Lassa fever and other public health threats.
This activity is part of a series of national workshops organised by WAHO across several Member States, aimed at strengthening the regional response to outbreaks and promoting more resilient health systems.