Why does this network exist and who runs it:
The sub-Saharan African Congenital Anomalies Network (sSCAN) is a regional Congenital Anomalies (CA) surveillance network established to provide support for congenital anomaly surveillance and build capacity in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The network is being established by a team of investigators with experience in CA surveillance, diagnosis and care of children with CA in Africa, from different countries including; Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda and the United Kingdom.
Rationale:
Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) bears the biggest burden of Congenital anomalies (CA), with 33% of global deaths in children under 5 years. There is an urgent need for capacity building in congenital anomaly surveillance and the establishment of collaborative research within and across countries in Africa.
AIM:
The primary aim of the network is to improve the diagnosis of congenital anomalies* and care for affected children and families, and promote the identification and prevention of their causes:
- by building an evidence base through surveillance and research
- improving capacity for collaborative research, and
- paving an impact pathway on policy and practice.
(*structural congenital anomalies)
OBJECTIVES:
- To provide a collaborative research and practice forum for network members
- To share, analyze, interpret, and disseminate harmonized surveillance data regarding prevalence, prevention and care
- To establish platforms that support cross-cutting stakeholder engagement in order to create effective impact pathways at local, national and regional level
- To support capacity building relevant to diagnosis, surveillance, research, prevention and care through training and relevant resources
- To raise awareness and address attitudinal barriers and stigma by developing or disseminating appropriate public communication materials
- To share best practices and innovative approaches to local challenges using technology and other resources
Our approach in this network is to:
- Provide means to share resources and multidisciplinary expertise
- Establish a common response to public health questions. Despite our countries being different, they are also similar in how they can overcome challenges.
- Pool and compare data between countries
- Capacity building and assistance to new CA surveillance centers
Membership:
Membership criteria is being established.
Funding acknowledgements: The seed Projects for the proposed African Network for Congenital Anomalies: Surveillance Prevention, and Care is funded by UKRI- Medical Research Council (MRC).