Nat’l Tymes News Desk
THE WEST African Alcohol Policy Alliance (WAAPA) met with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in Abuja on 26 November 2025 to introduce its work and explore opportunities for collaboration on alcohol control policies and legislation across the region.
At the meeting, WAAPA presented an overview of its activities, including its main focus areas, goals, and ongoing projects in nine member countries. Discussions highlighted the technical support needed by several nations.
Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone are seeking help to advance national alcohol control laws, while The Gambia, Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, and Senegal require assistance to strengthen their policies and programmes.
WAAPA also shared progress on its Civil Society Shadow Reports developed with FORUT Norway. The Liberia report has already been launched, with additional reports for Sierra Leone, Ghana, The Gambia, and Benin underway.
The Africa CDC team gave an overview of the organisation, noting its headquarters in Ethiopia and five Regional Offices that support Member States.
They explained that Africa CDC provides technical expertise—not funding—and focuses on protecting the health of Africans through prevention, early detection, and rapid response to health threats.
The team also highlighted its work on non-communicable diseases, including alcohol-related harm and mental health, and its presence in many countries to support national health authorities.
Africa CDC representatives confirmed that their leadership will review WAAPA’s request and advise on next steps. They assured WAAPA of continued engagement and further discussions on possible areas of collaboration.
The meeting represents a positive move toward stronger partnership between WAAPA and Africa CDC in promoting evidence-based alcohol control policies in West Africa.
Source: Nationaltymes.com
