By Olimatou Coker
The West African Network of Excellence for TB, AIDS and Malaria (WANETAM-4) has launched a five-year programme to strengthen research, training and health systems across West Africa.
The launch, held at the African Princess Hotel, brought together researchers, health professionals, institutions and key stakeholders.
Funded through the EU-Africa Global Health EDCTP3 partnership and coordinated by the MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM, the programme will conduct multi-country studies focused on TB multimorbidity, malaria elimination and HIV drug resistance.
Beyond research, WANETAM-4 will support the training and development of the next generation of African research leaders, strengthen laboratory capacity and accreditation to international standards, and enhance the region’s ability to detect and respond to disease outbreaks.
Director of Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Prof Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, emphasised the importance of investing in research and skills.
“WANETAM is made up of scientists across various academic and research institutions in West Africa who have the sole aim of developing sustainable expertise to advance research infrastructure and to make sure that we have quality-assured standards for conducting clinical trials and innovative research that could drive policy and inform control and elimination of poverty-related diseases,” she said.
Representing the Government of The Gambia, Executive Director of Tertiary and Higher Education Trust Fund, Dr Jorjoh Ndure-Tambedou, expressed full support and called for collective action.
“This network is one of the greatest assets. By pooling our expertise, our institutions, and our resources, we can achieve far more together than any single country could achieve alone,” she said.
Representing the Director of MRC Unit The Gambia, Director of Centre for Epidemic Preparedness and Response at LSHTM, Prof Martin Antonio, said MRC is proud of its contribution.
“As you know, the Medical Research Council has existed close to 80 years and prior to the establishment of the WHO,” he said.
President of WARIMA, Dembo Kanteh, said the five-year initiative focuses on strengthening research capacity, developing the next generation, and building stronger relationships with national public health institutions.
“On behalf of the West Africa Research and Innovation Management Association, it is my great honor and privilege to host you all to The Gambia for the launch and also for the first annual meeting of WANETAM-4. Your presence in The Gambia reflects our collective commitment to advancing scientific research, strengthening regional partnerships, capacity development, and addressing some of the most pressing public health challenges facing our communities,” Kanteh said.
WANETAM-4 is a 29-partner network — 19 institutions across 9 West African countries and 10 institutions in 6 European countries — including research centres, universities, teaching hospitals and national public health institutes established to tackle the diseases that weigh heaviest on the region.