Public health in Togo: The National Strategic Plan for Genomic Surveillance 2026–2028 officially launched

---

Extract from the article: On Monday 3 August 2026, Lomé hosted the official launch ceremony for the 2026–2028 National Strategic Plan for Genomic Surveillance. Led by the Ministry of Health, Public Hygiene, Universal Health Coverage and Insurance, its implementation repres...

---

On Monday 3 August 2026, Lomé hosted the official launch ceremony for the 2026–2028 National Strategic Plan for Genomic Surveillance. Led by the Ministry of Health, Public Hygiene, Universal Health Coverage and Insurance, its implementation represents an investment of over 2.8 billion CFA francs and forms part of the Government’s strategy to develop cutting-edge technologies to safeguard public health.

Togo is strengthening its public health defences in the face of a growing number of global epidemic crises. Stakeholders in the integrated ‘One Health’ approach have approved and launched an ambitious genomic surveillance plan. With technical and financial support from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Africa CDC, this three-year programme (2026–2028) aims to integrate cutting-edge biotechnology into the public health system to better track pathogens.

 Technological foresight

The Secretary-General, representing the Minister of Health, Dr Wotobe Kokou, explained that recent history of health emergencies necessitates a technological shift:

“The COVID-19 pandemic has turned the world upside down; it has strained health systems, weakened economies and served as a stark reminder that pathogens recognise neither administrative borders, nor sectoral boundaries, nor distinctions,” he said.

In public health, the modern response can no longer be limited to curative measures. Above all, it has demonstrated that, when faced with an emerging health threat, the speed of detection, the quality of scientific information and the ability to anticipate developments are just as crucial as the therapeutic resources mobilised. “Pathogen genomics has thus established itself as one of the pillars of contemporary public health security. It enables the early detection of threats, the monitoring of variant evolution, the targeting of interventions and the strengthening of the soundness of decisions taken by health authorities,” added Dr Wotobe Kokou.

A collaborative and cross-border approach

This national plan is not limited to human medicine. It brings together more than 80 experts from three interconnected fields: human, animal and environmental health. The shared objective of the National Institute of Hygiene (INH) and its partners is to increase the country’s capacity to identify, characterise and monitor emerging diseases before they spread.

Dr Kokou Alinon, Regional Director of Africa CDC West Africa, who was present at the ceremony, emphasised the key elements required for the success of this roadmap:

“To successfully implement this strategy, we will need strong political commitment, appropriate investment at national level, skilled human resources, efficient laboratories, digital infrastructure and seamless cooperation between sectors in line with the One Health approach.”

Dr Alinon also praised the country’s leadership within the sub-region. “I urge Togo to continue supporting neighbouring countries as they further strengthen their genomic systems. Infectious diseases know no borders, and our collective health security depends on each state’s ability to rapidly identify new threats and respond effectively.”

This surveillance plan will now draw on national reference laboratories, research institutes and universities to roll out sequencing capabilities on a large scale across the country. Through this strategic plan, Togo aims to strengthen its national capabilities in genomic surveillance and consolidate its preparedness and response mechanisms for health threats. This represents a major step forward for national public health security and the implementation of the ‘One Health’ approach in Togo.

Merveille MESSAN