On May 25th 2018, some of the most brilliant minds in the field of preparedness, control & response to epidemics gathered in Dakar (Senegal) for a one-day symposium organized by the Praesens Foundation and the Institut Pasteur de Dakar. Under the lemma “Community-based Solutions For Better Global Health Security”, experts shared community-driven insights, unique eld experiences and disruptive novel ideas in order to improve the response to current & future health threats.

Periodic infectious disease outbreaks and recurrent natural disasters serve to remind us of the importance of the public health system which encompasses the government and private sector, academia, NGOs, associations and development partners as a whole. The symposium took place on the outskirts of Dakar, in the emblematic lighthouse of “Les Mamelles”, a strategic, nineteenth century building, perched on a hill overlooking the westernmost point of Africa. Beyond its outmoded charms and impressive ocean views, the Lighthouse provided an outstanding framework fostering creative thinking, open discussions and collaborative initiatives.

This conference perfectly re ected a unique holistic approach to future health threats, based on multi-sectoral collaboration, and proudly succeeded in bringing together representatives from the entire ecosystem of global public health players.

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