5th December 2025
Collaborative Efforts: African Stakeholder Engagement for Combating Invasive Salmonella Infections Meeting
We convened in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, for a significant day of dialogue on typhoid fever control as part of the “Collaborative Efforts: African Stakeholder Engagement for Combating Invasive Salmonella Infections” meeting. This gathering brought together almost 130 participants from 17 African nations, providing an invaluable platform for sharing insights, reviewing progress, and planning future strategies.
The day began with a warm welcome from the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), followed by sessions on typhoid epidemiology, disease burden, and vaccine implementation. Prof. John Crump shared a comprehensive overview of global typhoid burden data, and Dr. Thaint Thaint Thwe presented findings from IVI’s studies on typhoid disease burden, showcasing significant progress in addressing this public health challenge.
Prof. Matt Laurens from the University of Maryland updated us on the TyVAC Consortium’s achievements in clinical development and vaccine introduction. Dr. Jung Seok Lee of International Vaccine Institute (IVI) highlighted the importance of health economics in shaping policies. Updates from THECA study components featured Prof. Octavie Lunguya (DRC, Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB)), Dr. Thaint Thaint Thwe (IVI, for Ghana), and Dr. Tsiry Razafindrabe/Prof Raphaël Rakotozandrindrainy (Madagascar, Madagascar Institute for Vaccine Research (MIVR)), illustrating the collaborative efforts driving these initiatives.
Participants also heard lessons from vaccine implementation experiences shared by Eric Nebié (PATH), Dr. Lady Rosny WANDJI NANA (Burkina Faso), and Dr. Tapfumanei Mashe (Zimbabwe). The discussions reinforced the remarkable progress in integrating typhoid conjugate vaccines across Africa and Asia, laying the foundation for a healthier future in regions most affected by typhoid fever.
This meeting, conducted under the THECA project and funded by the EU EDCTP2 and the Gates Foundation, is a testament to the power of collaboration.