Preventing infectious diseases through vaccination, hygiene, and vector control is far more cost-effective and efficient than treatment.

Strengthen vaccination programs to ensure coverage of routine vaccines like measles, polio, and diphtheria, as well as newer vaccines such as pneumococcal and rotavirus vaccines. Promote hand hygiene, clean water, and sanitation programs to reduce the spread of diarrheal diseases and respiratory infections. Implement vector control programs to reduce diseases spread by mosquitoes, such as malaria and dengue fever, through the distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS).

Early diagnosis and prompt treatment of infectious diseases are critical to reducing mortality and morbidity.

Train healthcare workers to recognize early signs and symptoms of common infectious diseases like malaria, tuberculosis (TB), and HIV, and to start treatment quickly. Encourage screening using rapid diagnostic testing (RDTs) for diseases such as malaria, hepatitis and HIV to enable timely initiation of therapy. Strengthen health systems to ensure that diagnostic tools are available and accessible even in rural and underserved areas. Educate communities on the importance of seeking healthcare early for all health conditions

When diagnostic facilities are lacking, empiric treatment based on clinical presentation can be lifesaving as the very last resort.

Treat febrile illnesses presumptively for malaria in endemic areas where diagnostic tests are unavailable or delayed. Start empiric antibiotic therapy for suspected bacterial infections like sepsis, meningitis, or pneumonia, especially in children under five, based on local resistance patterns. Consider syndromic management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in cases where laboratory confirmation is not feasible. Ensure access to essential drugs such as antimalarials, antibiotics, and oral rehydration salts (ORS) to manage common infections.

Given the overlap of infectious diseases, integrated management approaches are often necessary.

Implement Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) guidelines, which focus on the simultaneous treatment of multiple infections such as pneumonia, diarrhoea, and malaria in children. Promote HIV-TB co-infection screening and treatment since both diseases frequently co-occur in the same patient population. Ensure that healthcare workers screen for comorbidities like malnutrition, which exacerbates infectious diseases and worsens outcomes, particularly in children.

Educating and engaging the community is key to the success of infectious disease control programs.

Conduct community outreach and health education campaigns to improve knowledge about infectious diseases like malaria, HIV, cholera, and TB. Involve local leaders, religious institutions, and community health workers in promoting preventive measures and debunking myths around diseases such as HIV/AIDS and vaccination. Promote community-based programs for the management of infectious diseases, such as home-based care for HIV/AIDS patients or community case management of childhood illnesses.

Prevent and manage antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a growing threat in Sub-Saharan Africa, by promoting rational use of antibiotics and antimalarials. Take blood tests before commencing on treatment.

Investigation appropriately: Take blood samples before Antimicrobial Antimicrobial Stewardship: “is a systematic approach to educate and support health care professionals to follow evidence-based guidelines for prescribing and administering antimicrobials” (6). Using antibiotics smartly. Patients with meningitis give antibiotics that could penetrate the blood brain barrier. Think of common organisms while treating infections. Consider narrowest spectrum with appropriate duration to prevent resistance Enforce strict adherence to treatment guidelines, such as completing the full course of antibiotics for bacterial infections or antimalarials for malaria. Limit the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics to cases where narrow-spectrum alternatives are ineffective or unavailable. Promote regular AMR surveillance programs to monitor the resistance patterns of key pathogens like TB, malaria, and bacterial infections. Strengthen regulation around the sale and distribution of antibiotics to prevent over-the-counter use without prescriptions.

Controlling vectors like mosquitoes, flies, and rodents plays a critical role in reducing the transmission of many infectious diseases.

Promote Insecticide-Treated Nets (ITNs) and Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) in malaria-endemic regions. Improve environmental sanitation by eliminating standing water where mosquitoes breed and improving waste disposal to reduce the transmission of diseases such as cholera and typhoid. Support local governments in initiating urban planning programs that reduce overcrowding and improve access to clean water and waste management systems, as overcrowded areas often experience rapid disease transmission.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, many infectious diseases like HIV, TB, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) often occur together and should be managed collectively.

Strengthen HIV testing and integrate it with TB and STI clinics to ensure early detection of co-infections. Provide combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) to all HIV-positive individuals as soon as possible, along with TB prophylaxis if indicated. Implement Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) for high-risk populations to reduce HIV transmission. Encourage mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) prevention programs for HIV, which should include both antenatal and postnatal care interventions.

Malnutrition exacerbates infectious diseases, especially in children, so nutritional support is an essential part of treatment.

Integrate nutritional assessments and interventions, such as providing therapeutic feeding for malnourished children with infectious diseases like pneumonia or diarrhoea. Ensure Vitamin A supplementation in children under five to boost immune function and reduce the severity of infections such as measles and diarrheal diseases. Address food insecurity through local and national initiatives that promote food distribution, agriculture, and nutrition education programs.

Early detection of outbreaks through surveillance and rapid response is essential to controlling epidemics.

Strengthen surveillance systems to detect emerging and re-emerging infections such as Ebola, cholera, or meningitis. Establish rapid response teams at local and national levels to manage outbreaks and provide timely public health interventions. Promote international collaboration and information sharing through organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and Africa Centres for Disease Control (Africa CDC) to respond quickly to regional or cross-border outbreaks. Train healthcare workers in infection prevention and control (IPC) protocols, especially during outbreaks of highly contagious diseases such as viral haemorrhagic fevers.

Guarantee the availability and affordability of essential medicines, including antiretrovirals, antimalarials, and antibiotics.

Access to essential medicines is a significant challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. Governments and NGOs must work to ensure that life-saving medications are available, affordable, and distributed equitably, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

Advocate for and support the implementation of evidence-based health policies and programs targeting infectious diseases.

Strong, evidence-based policies are critical for the effective control of infectious diseases. Governments should invest in health systems strengthening, including funding for disease control programs, public health infrastructure, and research.