Mombasa, Kenya – The 5th African Union Smart Safety Surveillance (AU-3S) Steering Committee Meeting kicked off in Mombasa on 12th September 2024, bringing together key regulatory experts from across Africa and international health organizations.

Running from September 12 to 13, the meeting aims to strengthen the safety of medical products across Africa. The event is attended by Heads of African National Regulatory Agencies, senior officials from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the WHO, the US FDA, and AUDA-NEPAD.

During the opening session, Cabinet Secretary for Health Dr. Deborah Mlongo Barasa, represented by Dr. Sultan Matendechero, Ag Deputy Director General of Health in the State Department of Public Health and Professional Standards, highlighted Kenya’s strides in health safety through the AU-3S Programme.

Kenya’s key achievements include the development of new pharmacovigilance regulations, increased adverse event reporting related to COVID-19 vaccinations, and enhanced data collection and training. These initiatives, Dr. Matendechero stated, are aimed at improving safety monitoring systems and boosting public health across Africa.

The AU-3S programme, initially launched with five founding countries, has now expanded to include 12 African nations, marking significant progress in pharmacovigilance efforts. Dr. F. M. Siyoi, CEO of the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB), lauded the collaborative efforts of AUDA-NEPAD and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in supporting these initiatives.

He emphasized the positive impact the AU-3S Programme has had on patient safety, underscoring the need for continued collaboration between regulatory authorities and international partners to ensure the safety of health products across the continent.