THE INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIPS.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) suspended support from Kenya in 1997 and 2001.This was due to poor governance policies according to research by Global EDGE, Michigan University, US. Recently, they threatened to stop the funding again. Is Africa ready for this? 
We run the risk of losing a lot but I am chiefly worried about scientific projects. This means that research on medicine, science and technology are at stake.

Shortly into the month of June, various organizations responsible for health-oriented innovations met to table their achievements over the years of partnership. It was interesting to find out how funds are being availed in plenty to these organizations. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, for example, funded 70 000 US Dollars for the development of the Meningitis vaccine in June 2001. The disbursement of approximately $200 million under the Exogenous Shock Facility (ESF) of IMF can be another example. This was released to Africa in May 2009 to ‘provide policy support and financial assistance to low-income countries facing exogenous but temporary shocks’.

Well, are these innovation partnerships for the good of Africa or a banquet for the organizations to enjoy donor money?

THE HAT PLATFORM

This began in 2005 and now reigns in eight countries.
 “The initial beginners were Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and Angola which are the most affected by Human African Trypanosomiasis,” reported Dr. Augustin Kadima, the coordinator of the HAT platform in Democratic Republic of Congo.

The platform had to exist because “HAT is so neglected with little research, little treatment and diagnostic tools available,” Dr. Kadima added.

The seven years of work have allowed them to develop and implement the NECT Treatment.In 2000, over 25,000 cases of HAT were reported in Africa. By the end of 2012, WHO reported a 72.6% decrease in the cases. They have also provided fertile ground for anyone in need of research.

They established the shortcomings in the area being non-existent regulations, poor roads and lack of human resource, electricity and water.

THE LEAP PLATFORM

“LEAP was formed in a meeting in Khartoum in 2003 by Sudan, Ethiopia, Makerere University (Uganda) and Kenya (KEMRI plus Ministry of Health). Somalia has recently expressed interest,” said Dr. Ahmed Musa, the current chair of Leishmaniasis East Africa Platform (LEAP)

Their objective is to develop a strong clinical trial network. It is vital since Kala azar, in Horn of Africa alone, affects 30-40 thousand people annually.

They have managed to conduct consensus so as to prioritize needs of the affected people. This is made easier through use of clinical officers. These officers are trained at village level to enhance their efficacy.

“Some workers are sponsored to travel abroad for further studies and training,” he mentioned, as a form of capacity building.

They get international recognition through publications and conferences. This allows them to share experiences within the region.

The Gondar Ward in Ethiopia was renovated to a more spacious and modern facility. The previous one of tents was inefficient since the region experiences six months of rain.

A research and Treatment center in Arba Minah, Ethiopia.

They offer community service so as to gain popularity and trust from the people. This, if you asked the deputy director of Research of Kenya Trypanosomiasis Research Institute, Dr. Grace Murilla, is a good idea since “No one supports ideas unless they understand your agenda,”

 WHO accepted LEAP which helped to reduce the duration of availing SSG’s from 70 to 17 days. This has reduced the cost of the medicine.

“However maintenance of infrastructure and motivating workers to stay in endemic areas is still a problem,” Dr. Musa said in conclusion.

THE MVP PLATFORM

Meningitis has been a problem since 1948 but it was not until there was an epidemic in 1987 that Angola Chad and Ouagadougou met to discuss a MVP vaccine.

The Meningitis Vaccine Project availed the medicine at fixed price of 0.50$ per dose. Thanks to collaboration between MenAfriVac, PATH and WHO .This cost is affordable even to those who live under a dollar per day. The cases of Meningitis have since decreased from 188,345 to 28 805.The next big thing for this project was its acceptance by the president of Burkina Faso in June 2010 as the Godfather of the project. It is now implemented in 10 African countries. All these helped bring the new vaccine to the patients as presented by Dr. Mamoudou Djingarey as the coordinator of the vaccine introduction.

Countries like Uganda Kenya and Burundi are not within the MVP belt but they will be vaccinated by 2014.This assurance was voiced by Dr. Kadima. Dr. Charles Mgone, the executive Director of EDTCP added, “Northern Uganda, North eastern border of Sudan and Chad will be implemented as part of routine for 2016.”

They work with an accredited well known institution in India to develop these vaccines. . It takes 8-10 years to develop a new vaccine so they use polysaccharides non-vaccine serotype strategies are used to while awaiting a new vaccine, added Dr. Kadima.

ANDI (African network for Drugs and Diagnostics Innovation)

The acting director, Dr. Solomon Nwaka, mentioned that NIPRISAN (NIX-O699) has been developed for sickle cell anaemia in Nigeria.

Their centers of excellence (COEs) are pampered with fellowships, training and technical publication. They however have administrative, human resource and funding issues. They sought to have a business plan with European Union (EU) which will alleviate their standards. This will be discussed in the 5^th ANDI meeting from 1^st to 3^rd October 2013.There is hope.

On the whole, their presentations may have been a small scale representation of their achievements. I would rather settle on that idea because a platform like HAT that receives funding from close to 15 international companies can do much more. When the effort of every innovator is slight the general development of Africa will be slight as well. The funding will still flow in though but is the amount equitable to the rate of innovation in Africa?