Responding to public health priorities

However, the vertical approach adopted to overcome the devastation of major pandemics (in addition to HIV/AIDS, this term refers to tuberculosis and malaria) has, at the same time, been implemented to the detriment of strengthening health systems and taking into account other diseases and public health priorities.

Yet, with the exception of a handful of regions or countries, the world is experiencing an epidemiological transition which is combined with an improvement in the hygiene, nutrition and organisation of health services and a transformation of causes of death. Infectious diseases are gradually taking second place in view of the trend in the global burden of disease. They are gradually declining, while chronic and degenerative diseases and accidents are having an increasingly significant impact on global mortality and morbidity.

Although the agenda for infectious diseases and RMNCH is still of the utmost importance, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, the incidence of chronic diseases – cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, etc. – is now the priority agenda for global health. In addition, there are other public health priorities, which include mental health, obesity, the treatment of injuries and accidents, addictions, environmental health, etc.

All these together are the public health priorities which Expertise France is working to gradually cover, with a focus on international health security, non-communicable diseases and reproductive, maternal and neonatal health. A real public health approach is necessary in order to take effective action on these issues. It requires developing ambitious public policies (preventive, therapeutic, research and innovation aspects, etc.), such as for the fight against smoking, and taking action on the social determinants of health.

In order to meet these public health priorities, Expertise France has developed several innovative projects. Examples of its action include:

 • Strengthening the management of childhood cancers in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire Mali and Morocco (project financed by the French Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs);

• Reducing the impact of smoking on health, in particular on morbidity and mortality in Burkina Faso (project financed by the French Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs);

 • Improving maternal and child health and reducing maternal, neonatal and child mortality in Chad with PASST 2, a project financed by AFD.