2014 Aggrey-Fraser-Guggisberg Memorial Lecture

Date: 
Friday, March 28, 2014 - 17:00
Venue: 
Great Hall

The University of Ghana is pleased to announce the

2014 AGGREY-FRASER-GUGGISBERG MEMORIAL LECTURES

(3 day Lecture Series)

 

to be delivered by

 
PROFESSOR ROSE FOMBAN LEKE

Professor of Parasitology and Immunology

Faculty of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences

University of Yaounde, Cameroon

 
 

Date: March 26-28, 2014

5.00 p.m. daily

Venue: Great Hall
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Theme: Science and Health in Africa’s Future Development

Day 1:    Eliminating Infectious Diseases: The Remaining Challenges

Day 2:    Immunization: A Crucial Element in the Health Battles

Day 3:    Advancing Scientific Research for Health and Development in Africa

SYNOPSIS

Africa is a beautiful continent with so many natural resources, from vegetation to diverse marine and land animals, to minerals and oil, a continent with high reproductive rates and so much human potential, so rich in every aspect and yet handicapped by poverty and disease.

There is a crucial relationship between health and development. The vicious circle of poverty and disease has been well described. Good health can be said to be a pre-requisite for development in a nation, while poverty is often a consequence of health problems, which directly impact on household and national economy. It is estimated that the value of economic output accrued caused by work years saved and subtracting the costs of malaria intervention in 2013 alone could be US $208 billion (Purdy, Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 2013)

Africa is faced with many health problems, such as HIV, malaria, hypertension, cancer and other infectious and non-communicable diseases, which have greatly hindered its full development. Infectious diseases have been the major health problem facing Africa for centuries coupled with poor maternal and child health, and weak health systems. At least 65% of deaths in Africa are due to infectious diseases.  Many of the diseases are preventable either by immunization or other preventive measures.  The importance of scientific research is well recognized as it provides the tools for combating these diseases. Few examples of scientific successes in research and development that radically changed the burden of diseases and public health are ACT’s (Artemisinin Combined Therapy) for malaria, protease inhibitors for HIV, vaccines, etc. Besides basic research, translational research, implementation research and health systems research are crucial in moving scientific discoveries to the bedside.

These series of lectures will elucidate the challenges in eliminating infectious disease in Africa, the major role of immunization with regard to health and development, and how scientific research for health has had an impact and will continue to play an important role in accelerating progress and development in Africa.

Notwithstanding, Africa’s economic momentum is palpable in the global economic arena. We read from McKinsey publication in 2010: “Africa’s economic pulse has quickened, infusing the continent with a new commercial vibrancy. Real GDP rose 4.9 percent per year from 2000 through 2008, more than twice its pace in the 1980s and ’90s. Africa’s collective GDP, at $1.6 trillion in 2008, is now roughly equal to Brazil’s or Russia’s GDP and the continent is among the world’s most rapidly growing economic regions.” Imagine where Africa would be if the burden of diseases would decrease...