National public health institutes in Africa
A systematic review
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15374973 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Sidney Sangong (0009-0002-1634-4521, University of Freiburg, corresponding author), Luchuo Engelbert Bain (0000-0002-6006-2698, University of Johannesburg), Arielle Wada Tchatchou Ndickmuh (Université de Yaoundé I) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 26 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Publication date | 2026-02-28 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | BMC Public Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1471-2458 • E-ISSN: 1471-2458 |
| Publisher | BioMed Central (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1186/s12889-026-26801-x |
| PMID | 41761117 |
| OpenAlex | W7131908454 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 30 |
Optimal functioning of public health systems entails a single coordinating focal point incorporating public health activities of both private and public sectors of a society. The consolidation of public health functions at the national level through the establishment of national public health institutes (NPHI) aids in effectively tackling public health challenges by incorporating data and expertise to coordinate efforts across different sectors. Most African countries are often lacking the necessary public health frameworks for effective pandemic preparedness and outbreak response. With sub optimally established NPHIs in African countries with just barely a quarter of these presenting fully established NPHIs in an attempt to strengthen health systems, this review aims to provide specific details on established NPHIs in Africa, evaluating their overall roles, accomplishments and providing details on observed gaps. The study was a systematic review conducted using the 2020 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) checklist. Peer-reviewed research articles on NPHIs in Africa published from January 2000 to April 2025 in English or French were retrieved from seven databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, WHO Afro Library, the National Institute for Health Research, and African Journals Online databases. This systematic review examined the establishment, accomplishments, and challenges of National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) in Africa. Eleven studies (2000–2025) were analyzed using PRISMA and QATSDD criteria. NPHIs were found to enhance outbreak detection, consolidate fragmented health functions, strengthen workforce capacity, and foster inter-institutional cooperation. Key achievements included advancing surveillance, improving equity, and supporting evidence-based policy responses. However, as of December 2023, only 23 of 55 African Union member states had fully established NPHIs, with persistent governance, communication, and commodity access challenges. Findings underscore NPHIs’ critical role in health security, while highlighting urgent gaps limiting Africa’s outbreak preparedness and system resilience
Health care · Health promotion · International health · Pandemic · Preparedness · Public health · Systematic review · Workforce · Global Health and Surgery · Global Maternal and Child Health · Public Health Policies and Education · Health Policy
Summarizing systematic reviews
The PRISMA 2020 statement
Strengthening national public health institutes
Governance and structure of national public health agencies
Using critical information to strengthen pandemic preparedness
Covid-19 preparedness
Benefits and challenges of consolidating public health functions into a National Public Health Institute
Field epidemiology training programs contribute to Covid-19 preparedness and response globally
A Step-by-Step Process of Thematic Analysis to Develop a Conceptual Model in Qualitative Research
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |