Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa on NTDs, Cervical Cancer & Africa’s Pandemic Preparedness
February 17, 2025
By Adonis Byemelwa
Governments must integrate diagnostics into primary healthcare and national systems—not just for NTDs and cervical cancer but to prevent the next pandemic, says Dr Ifedayo Adetifa
Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa is a leading force in global health. As CEO of FIND, he is revolutionizing infectious disease diagnostics. Previously, he led Nigeria’s Centre for Disease Control & Prevention (NCDC), securing critical funding and strengthening pandemic response. With expertise in Lassa fever, vaccines, malaria, tuberculosis, and respiratory viruses, his impact spans Africa and beyond. He also advises the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).
A graduate of the University of Ilorin, he holds a Ph.D. in Epidemiology from the University of Amsterdam and was an Associate Professor at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. In an exclusive Pan African Visions interview, Dr. Adetifa discusses the fight against Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), cervical cancer, and the future of pandemic preparedness in Africa, offering crucial insights on breaking disease-driven poverty cycles and strengthening health systems.
NTDs are often described as diseases of poverty. Beyond the health impact, how do these diseases keep communities trapped in hardship ?
NTDs fuel poverty by draining household incomes, with families forced to spend scarce resources on treatment. They also reduce productivity—when adults fall sick, they can’t work, and children miss school, limiting future opportunities. Women, often the primary caregivers, bear the additional burden of looking after sick relatives, leading to lost income and worsening economic instability. The lack of clean water, sanitation, and healthcare infrastructure in affected communities perpetuates disease transmission, creating a vicious cycle of poverty and ill health. Governments, industry, and civil society must join forces to raise awareness and expand access to treatment, prevention, and care.
Universal health coverage is crucial—people must have access to quality and affordable health services. Clean water and sanitation are also key to stopping NTD transmission. The WHO’s 2021–2030 roadmap on NTDs sets ambitious elimination targets, but success hinges on better diagnostic tools. At FIND, we are working to accelerate the development of accurate, affordable, and accessible diagnostics, ensuring they reach the communities that need them. Education is equally important—people need to know when, where, and how to seek testing and care.
You’ve been at the forefront of advancing diagnostics in Africa. What are the biggest gaps in NTD detection today, and how can better diagnostics revolutionize the fight against these diseases ?
Despite progress—seven countries have eliminated sleeping sickness, and 42 have eradicated at least one NTD—these diseases still affect over a billion people annually. A major challenge is access to simple, reliable tests that can be used in remote areas. Accurate diagnostics are crucial for implementing elimination strategies like mass drug administration. FIND has developed DxConnect, a directory that helps countries identify available tests, their manufacturers, and how best to deploy them. Investing in better diagnostics will allow us to track, treat, and eliminate these diseases more effectively.
Cervical cancer remains one of the most preventable yet deadly diseases for women in Africa. What needs to change in policy and practice ?
Despite being vaccine-preventable, cervical cancer kills one woman every two minutes worldwide. In South Africa alone, over 10,700 new cases are diagnosed yearly, with more than 5,800 deaths. To eliminate cervical cancer, two things must happen: vaccinate boys and girls between ages 9–and 15 against HPV and expand access to HPV screening for all women. Early detection saves lives. Governments must ensure that affordable, high-quality diagnostic tests—including DNA self-testing kits—are widely available. Making these tests accessible in pharmacies at a low cost will encourage more women to get screened.
How prepared is Africa for the next pandemic, and what lessons from COVID-19 must not be ignored?
Of the top 20 potential pandemic threats identified by WHO, we have adequate diagnostics for only two. That’s alarming. Outbreaks like Ebola and Marburg virus show that Africa remains highly vulnerable. However, Rwanda’s swift containment of Marburg and Uganda’s rapid Ebola vaccine deployment demonstrates growing preparedness. Post-COVID-19, many African nations recognize the need for quick action, with diagnostics as a pillar of response. Encouragingly, South Africa—holding the G20 presidency—has made pandemic preparedness a top priority. The challenge now is ensuring that commitments translate into tangible investments in disease surveillance, laboratory systems, and rapid-response infrastructure.
The “100-Day Mission” aims to accelerate responses to new health threats. What does this mean for Africa, and how can we ensure equitable distribution of diagnostics, vaccines, and treatments ?
Diagnostic gaps delay outbreak detection, prolonging suffering and increasing fatalities. To fix this, Africa must prioritize developing tests for its top 20 priority pathogens, as outlined by the Africa CDC. A continental playbook is needed to standardize the distribution of medical supplies during cross-border outbreaks—something that was sorely missing during COVID-19. Proactive investment in disease surveillance, laboratory capacity, and supply chain readiness is key.
At FIND, we support initiatives like Senegal’s diaTROPIX manufacturing facility, which now produces 75 million diagnostic tests annually. We also assist Kenya and Zambia in tracking antimicrobial resistance and have strengthened Lassa fever diagnostics in Liberia. Preparedness is a marathon before the sprint—governments must invest now to avoid scrambling when the next outbreak hits.
Can you share a success story where better diagnostics have changed lives?
The development of the first-ever rapid diagnostic test for sleeping sickness was a game-changer. It enabled WHO to classify the disease for elimination, a target already met by seven countries. For schistosomiasis, a new rapid test covering all major worm species is making screening cheaper and more accessible. Meanwhile, during COVID-19, FIND played a pivotal role in assessing new diagnostics and ensuring their global availability.
As we observe World NTD Day and Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, what message do you have for governments, health organizations, and individuals ?
Diagnostics are the foundation of health—they save lives, prevent suffering, and provide early warnings for emerging threats. Yet, nearly one in two people lack access to accurate, affordable testing. FIND is committed to making diagnostics available to all, but we need governments and industry to step up. Investment in diagnostic innovation is vital, but so is ensuring these tools reach the communities that need them most. Governments must integrate diagnostics into primary healthcare and national systems—not just for NTDs and cervical cancer but to prevent the next pandemic. The Pathogen Diagnostics Readiness Index provides a roadmap for filling diagnostic gaps and guiding investments where they matter most. The time to act is now.
