Delegates from Cameroon and across Africa will meet from 7 to 11 September 2026 at the CCAA Training School in Yaoundé-Nsimalen to discuss the specific characteristics of their respective countries and the challenges involved in developing long-term training programmes to help prevent and manage future public health emergencies likely to affect air transport.

During the two-day session of the 12th meeting of the Collaboration Agreement for the Prevention and Management of Public Health Events in the Aviation Sector (CAPSCA), participants will examine the conclusions and recommendations of the 11th meeting held in Kenya in 2025; to review updates from the WHO and CDC Africa on the management of recent public health events in Africa; to hear reports on the management of these recent events, with a particular focus on the recent measures taken in the DRC and Uganda, where public health crises are currently raging. Other sessions will focus on CAPSCA activities carried out, the challenges faced, and the lessons learnt by the States.

These will be complemented by a three-day public health training course designed to strengthen cooperation and collaboration between the aviation sector and public health, and a visit to Yaoundé-Nsimalen International Airport, which will enable more in-depth discussions and help to link the discussions to their implementation, as highlighted by Mr Romain EKOTO, the ICAO Regional Director for West and Central Africa.

An initiative that Cameroon welcomes. To its credit, several significant measures have already been taken, notably the excellent coordination between the aviation and health sectors in managing public health emergencies, the drafting of public health emergency plans for the international airports of Douala and Yaoundé Nsimalen, the conduct of health supervision audits, and many other international commitments fulfilled to ensure the safety, security and resilience of civil aviation, as revealed by Ms ASSOUMOU KOKI, Director General of the CCAA, at the opening of this meeting.

It should be noted that CAPSCA is a global initiative of the ICAO (Article 14 of the Chicago Convention) implemented in partnership with the WHO and other international organizations. It aims to strengthen the aviation sector’s prevention and response capacity in the face of public health events, notably epidemics, pandemics or nuclear accidents. It was established following the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) epidemic in 2003, during which aviation was the fastest means of transmission. To date, this programme has helped to improve the preparedness and management of health emergencies by governments, airports, airlines and all stakeholders, and has 42 member countries.

This 12th edition of CAPSACA therefore provides another essential platform and an opportunity for public health and civil aviation authorities to further strengthen surveillance and better coordinate emergency responses, as called for by the Vice-President of CAPSCA Africa, Dr Catherine NYAMAZANA.

Bernice Ntyam/CCRP-CCAA

 Trans: MKG/ARO-PRU

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