Cape Verde, Guinea-Conakry, and Liberia are included in the initial phase of the Health Security Program (PSSA) for West and Central Africa, spearheaded by the World Bank, according to an announcement by the Cape Verdean government on October 3.
The program aims to “ensure the continuity of essential health services before, during, and after health emergencies,” drawing on “lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and progress made with the Regional Disease Surveillance Systems Strengthening Program (REDISSE).”
Approved by the World Bank’s board of directors in December 2023, the PSSA is backed by $500 million (€453 million) in funding. The first phase, which includes the three countries announced on October 3, will receive $178 million (€161.4 million) in investment, providing both technical and financial support to the West African Health Organization (WAHO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (WHO).
The initiative will focus on critical areas such as antimicrobial resistance, governance, and health equity.