Ermel A. K. JOHNSON🇧🇯🇧🇫

MD, MSC, PhDc
#HPSR, Implementation Research, Knowledge Translation @wanelhps' Ambassador. Views are my own.

[Ecowas - Cedeao @ecowas_cedeao]

MESSAGE DE S.E. Dr OMAR ALIEU TOURAY, PRÉSIDENT DE LA COMMISSION DE LA CEDEAO, À L'OCCASION DU 51ÈME ANNIVERSAIRE DE NOTRE COMMUNAUTÉ.

Bâtir aujourd'hui, la CEDEAO de demain.

#ECOWASDay2026 #ECOWASDay

[Ermel A. K. JOHNSON🇧🇯🇧🇫 @johnson_ermel]

@ahuja_priyank Claude

[Ermel A. K. JOHNSON🇧🇯🇧🇫 @johnson_ermel]

L'#École, comme espace de sécurité et d'autonomisation des filles.

[WAHO | OOAS @OoasWaho]

Good morning everyone,

We are pleased to share with you the press release relating to the 27th @ecowas_cedeao Assembly of Health Ministers, which will take place in Freetown, Sierra Leone, from 20 to 25 April 2026.

You can access the press release via the following link:
https://t.co/a3B9HdY11G

Organised by WAHO, this high-level regional meeting will focus on malaria elimination through an integrated approach, bringing together decision-makers to strengthen cooperation and define health priorities.

[Ermel A. K. JOHNSON🇧🇯🇧🇫 @johnson_ermel]

Researchers in collaboration with policymakers are fully committed to understand the root causes of resurgence of Vaccine Preventable Diseases. Stay tuned! #EIDM #KT

[WAHO | OOAS @OoasWaho]

Finalisation of the DETAMEV-ECOWAS Research Protocol on Vaccine-Preventable Diseases

A regional workshop dedicated to the finalisation of the research protocol on the determinants of the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases in the #ECOWAS region (DETAMEV-ECOWAS) was held from 9 to 13 March 2026 in Conakry, Republic of Guinea.

This technical meeting, organised by the West African Health Organisation (@OoasWaho), brought together representatives of Expanded Programme on Immunisation (#EPI), researchers in epidemiology and socio-anthropology from several #ECOWAS Member States, as well as experts from @OoasWaho. The workshop aimed to harmonise understanding of the regional research protocol and to analyse the factors that may explain the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases in the region.

The Senior Adviser at the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Guinea, Dr Abdoulaye Kaba, representing Her Excellency the Minister of Health and Public Hygiene, emphasised in his opening remarks the need to strengthen epidemiological surveillance and prevention mechanisms for vaccine-preventable diseases. He also highlighted the importance of close collaboration among countries in the region to address shared health challenges, before officially declaring the regional workshop open.

The National Director of Epidemiology and Disease Control (#DNELM), Dr Gassim Cissé, for his part, highlighted the progress made by Guinea in the field of immunisation, particularly the gradual improvement in national vaccination coverage over the past decade. However, he noted that several health crises, including the Ebola epidemic, have weakened health systems and affected the confidence of certain communities in vaccination services.

The Director General of @OoasWaho, Dr @Melchior_AISSI, in his welcome address delivered by Dr Yves Mongbo, indicated that the DETAMEV-ECOWAS study responds to a request from Member States to better understand the determinants of the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases to guide regional prevention strategies.

During the technical sessions, national delegations presented the status of vaccination coverage in their respective countries, as well as the challenges encountered in implementing immunisation programmes. Discussions highlighted issues related to the quality of vaccination data, human resources in immunisation services, difficulties in accessing certain geographical areas, and vaccine hesitancy in some communities.

Participants also emphasised the need to adopt a multidimensional approach combining quantitative and qualitative analyses, as well as a socio-anthropological perspective, to better understand the factors influencing vaccination across different national contexts.

Through the DETAMEV-ECOWAS study, Member States aim to generate robust scientific evidence to inform public health policies and strengthen vaccination strategies, thereby contributing to a sustainable reduction in the incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases in West Africa.

[WAHO | OOAS @OoasWaho]

UNDER WAHO’S LEADERSHIP, ECOWAS LAUNCHES A NEW REGIONAL MOMENTUM FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH

The Economic Community of West African States (@ecowas_cedeao), through the West African Health Organisation (@OoasWaho), will officially launch the ECOWAS Regional Community Health Policy (#RCHP) on 24 March 2026 at the Sofitel Hotel in Cotonou, Benin .

This high-level event will bring together political and health authorities, representatives of #ECOWAS Member States, technical and financial partners, as well as stakeholders from civil society, academia and the private sector. It marks a significant milestone in strengthening community health systems across the region.

The Regional Community Health Policy provides a strategic framework aimed at bringing health services closer to communities, with a strong emphasis on prevention, health promotion, community-based surveillance and active community engagement. This initiative is fully in line with the strategic guidelines adopted by the 26th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Health Ministers of #ECOWAS held in Praia, Cabo Verde, which called for strengthened investment and action in community health across the region.

Through this initiative, @ecowas_cedeao, under the leadership of @OoasWaho, seeks to drive a renewed regional momentum for community health, with a view to accelerating progress towards Universal Health Coverage across the #ECOWAS region.

The official launch will be preceded, on 23 March 2026, by a technical workshop bringing together Member State delegates, regional experts, technical and financial partners, as well as key multisectoral stakeholders. The workshop will provide an opportunity to present the policy in detail, support country ownership, and examine practical modalities for its implementation. It will also lead to the validation of a regional roadmap for operationalisation, ensuring a coordinated and effective roll-out across #ECOWAS Member States.

This launch marks the beginning of a new phase of regional commitment towards more resilient, inclusive and community-centred health systems, and will contribute to accelerating progress towards Universal Health Coverage across the #ECOWAS region.

[Ermel A. K. JOHNSON🇧🇯🇧🇫 @johnson_ermel]

@No_Limit229 Une Fédération à l'image du Nigeria serait bien. Vivement ce rêve un jour

[WAHO | OOAS @OoasWaho]

The West African Health Organisation (@OoasWaho), the Specialised Institution of the Economic Community of West African States (@ecowas_cedeao) responsible for health issues, and the Global Fund (@GlobalFund) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Monday, 16 February 2026 in Geneva, Switzerland, marking an important milestone in strengthening regional cooperation in public health.

The signing took place during an official mission of the @OoasWaho delegation led by its Director General, Dr @Melchior_AISSI, at the headquarters of the Global Fund. The agreement establishes a structured framework for collaboration aimed at supporting #ECOWAS Member States in improving the financing of their health systems and enhancing their resilience to health challenges.

Both institutions also held in-depth strategic discussions to develop a joint regional advocacy plan focused on health financing and public financial management in the health sector. The objective is to support Member States in moving towards greater financial autonomy and gradually reducing dependence on external funding.

For @OoasWaho, this partnership represents a major lever to assist West African countries in transitioning to stronger, more sustainable and better-financed health systems. It aligns with regional efforts to accelerate progress towards Universal Health Coverage and to ensure the continuity of essential health services for populations.

@OoasWaho and the @GlobalFund expressed their shared commitment to swiftly move into the operational phase in order to translate these commitments into tangible and measurable results for the benefit of countries across the region.

#ECOWAS #WAHO #HealthFinancing #PublicHealth #HealthResilience #RegionalCooperation #StrategicPartnership

[WAHO | OOAS @OoasWaho]

📩 The January edition of the @OoasWaho Newsletter is now live!

Discover our latest updates, key regional initiatives, strategic partnerships, and major health highlights across #ECOWAS.

🔗 Read it here: https://t.co/IhTP6aM0AJ

#WAHO #ECOWAS #RegionalHealth

[Ermel A. K. JOHNSON🇧🇯🇧🇫 @johnson_ermel]

@MedesseG Intéressé. Besoin d'informations

[☥ Seth _ Kemite ☥ @King__Bantu]

Cheikh Anta Diop est mort d’une crise cardiaque ? L’occident l’a fait assassiné.

L’autopsie n’a jamais été réalisé. J’accuse le gouvernement sénégalais à l’époque de cacher la vérité.

Le président du Sénégal 🇸🇳 Abdou Diouf était proche de l’occident.

Voilà tu sais tout 👇🏾

[Ermel A. K. JOHNSON🇧🇯🇧🇫 @johnson_ermel]

Who are we as African?

Every African person should ask himself this question to know how to fit in the future of Africa.

[WAHO | OOAS @OoasWaho]

📍Abuja | From 25 to 29 August 2025, @OoasWaho is convening over 150 professionals from ECOWAS countries for a regional workshop to develop harmonised procedure manuals for key health professions across West Africa.

[Ermel A. K. JOHNSON🇧🇯🇧🇫 @johnson_ermel]

🌍Webinar Invitation: Communicating Science with Impact.
📢Get ready to elevate your scientific communication!
Showcase your work effectively at international conferences
📅Date: August 20th, 2025
🕒Time: 11:00 am - 1:00pm, online
🔗 Register now:https://t.co/6K1AWKEsqD

[Ermel A. K. JOHNSON🇧🇯🇧🇫 @johnson_ermel]

Panel discussion on SETTING THE SCENE OF 3E by Dr. Newman Owiredu Morkor:
1- Why the Triple Elimination ?
2- Where are we?
3- What's next?

[Ermel A. K. JOHNSON🇧🇯🇧🇫 @johnson_ermel]

Attending the first of a kind *Triple Elimination Conference of Africa* (TECA), from 21st to 23rd July, 2025 in Kampala, Uganda.

[Ermel A. K. JOHNSON🇧🇯🇧🇫 @johnson_ermel]

@shegunbakari @PatriceTalonPR @gouvbenin Félicitations au Ministre et à son équipe pour les efforts dans le rayonnement de la diplomatie Béninoise.

[Ecowas - Cedeao @ecowas_cedeao]

ECOWAS to officially launch golden jubilee celebrations on 22 April 2025 in Accra, Ghana, with Heads of State and Government in attendance...https://t.co/hVo70T4mYa

[Ermel A. K. JOHNSON🇧🇯🇧🇫 @johnson_ermel]

I've represented @OoasWaho at the launch of the #African #Research #Frameworks organised by @AfricaCDC as part of the continental #R&D agenda. I've shared #WAHO experience in research #networks development.
Key message: Research should be seen as an investment not as expense

[Issiaka Sombie @IssiakaSombie]

To strengthen collaboration between National Research Ethic Committee in ⁦@ecowas_cedeao⁩ countries, ⁦@OoasWaho⁩ organised a regional meeting. Keys activities were planned and will be implemmented before the end of this year.