Human history has been befallen by a long chain of famines, epidemics, and pandemics. During this current COVID-19 pandemic, our world remains under-prepared to predict, detect, respond, prevent infectious disease outbreaks, and a fortiori pandemics-whether naturally occurring, accidental, or deliberately released. These threats endanger lives, disrupt families and societies, and wreak havoc on economies. They represent the ultimate equal opportunity condition! They do not respect national boundaries, do not discriminate between different ethnicities, religions, social or economic status or even age, and can spread rapidly, jeopardizing the health, security, and prosperity of all world countries. Indeed, physical distance alone no longer provides protection as pathogens can move from one point on Earth to almost any other place in the world within less than 36 hours! Yet, the cost of failing to control outbreaks, ruining and losing lives, destabilizing the social fabric, and decimating economies is considerably greater than the cost of prevention. It is therefore in each country's security interest to strengthen global health security and manage the risk of infectious disease outbreaks that might further develop into full-blown pandemics. Having hosted several variants of the original causal coronavirus, this global warning applies particularly to the African continent where health security needs particular highlighting, multidisciplinary engagement and multisector coordination need strengthening, and financial preparedness is direly needed. Against this background, COVID-19 was naturally selected as the main theme for the 2020-2021 SASA International Conference that was jointly co-hosted by the Society for the Advancement of Science in Africa, the Uganda Ministry of Health, and other partners (World Health Organization). This volume encapsulates a range of perspectives and associated recommendations. The health as well as socio-economic challenges glaringly manifested by the pandemic are discussed for preparation and control to render African societies more resilient, including response and treatment to meet the African contexts; education and transformation to address poverty concerns; envisaging and shaping new futures to cater for a more holistic and inclusive wellbeing; and adoption of scientific innovation to meet future demands for disease control.
Author Biography:
DR. ALAIN L. FYMAT is President/ CEO and Institute Professor at the International Institute of Medicine & Science, with a previous appointment as Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer and Professor at the Weil Institute of Critical Care Medicine, both institutions in California, U.S.A. He was formerly Professor of Radiology, Radiological Sciences, Radiation Oncology, Critical Care Medicine, and Physics at several U.S. and European Universities. Earlier, he was Deputy Director (Western Region) of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (Office of Research Oversight). At the Loma Linda Veterans Affairs Medical Center, he was Scientific Director of Radiology, Director of the Magnetic Resonance Imaging Center and, for a time, Acting Chair of Radiology. Previously, he was Director of the Division of Biomedical and Biobehavioral Research at the University of California at Los Angeles/Drew University of Medicine and Science. Dr. Fymat's has published extensively and is the author of several volumes on neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, dementias, epilepsy); oncology (brain and other cancers); epigenetics & ecogenetics; nanomedicine & nanobiotechnology; and emerging infectious diseases (Lyme, pandemics). DR. NORMA R.A. ROMM is a Professor in the Department of Adult Education and Youth Development at the University of South Africa. She is the author or co-author of several volumes on the methodologies of positivism and marxism, accountability in social research, new racism, responsible research practice, people's education in theoretical perspective, diversity management, and assessment of the impact of HIV and AIDS in the informal economy of Zambia. She has worked (in teams) for commissioned research for organizations such as the International Labor Organization, the International Organization for Migration, the Association for the Development of Education in Africa, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and the United Nations Democracy Fund. DR. JOACHIM KAPALANGA is a Physician-Scientist and an Educator who was educated at Yale University, the State University of New York, Queen's University, and the University of Guelph. He has multiple current posts, including Professor (Adjunct) of Paediatrics at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry and the Southwestern Ontario Academic Health Network - Knowledge Translation Group, in Canada. Dr. Kapalanga's current scholarly and research pursuits are in the epigenetics of neurodevelopmental disorders and exploration of shared endophenotypes in neurobehavioral disorders. He is a member of multiple international scientific and professional organizations. He has published extensively.
