Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention

Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
Name	Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
Type	Public health agency
Formation	31 January 2017
Headquarters	African Union Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Leader title	Director
Leader name	Jean Kaseya
Parent organization	African Union
Website	https://africacdc.org/

Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention is a specialized technical institution of the African Union established to strengthen public health systems across the continent. Its creation was formally endorsed during the 26th Assembly of the African Union in Addis Ababa and it became operational in early 2017. The agency aims to support African Union member states in surveillance, emergency response, and prevention of infectious diseases, drawing inspiration from models like the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

History and establishment

The impetus for creating a continental public health agency grew from lessons learned during the 2014-2016 West African Ebola virus epidemic, which exposed critical gaps in Africa's health security architecture. The proposal gained formal political traction at the African Union Summit in Malabo in 2014. Following extensive consultations with partners like the World Health Organization and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the agency's statute was adopted by the Assembly of the African Union in July 2016. The official launch ceremony on 31 January 2017 was attended by leaders including then-Chairperson of the African Union Commission Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Director-General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Mission and objectives

The core mission is to advance Africa's health security by supporting member states in building resilient public health systems capable of detecting and responding to disease threats. Key objectives include enhancing capacity for epidemiological surveillance, supporting laboratory networks, and leading coordinated responses to outbreaks and pandemics. The agency also focuses on strengthening workforce development through initiatives like the African Volunteer Health Corps and promoting research and development for diseases prevalent on the continent, such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis.

Structure and governance

The agency is governed by a steering committee comprising ministers of health from member states and is overseen by the African Union Commission. Its headquarters in Addis Ababa houses the office of the Director, currently held by Jean Kaseya. Structurally, it operates through five Regional Coordinating Centres located in Nigeria, Gabon, Zambia, Kenya, and Egypt, each serving a designated geographic zone of the continent. Technical coordination is provided by divisions focused on areas like surveillance, laboratory systems, and emergency preparedness.

Key functions and activities

Primary functions include coordinating continent-wide disease surveillance through networks like the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response system and the Africa Pathogen Genomics Initiative. A major activity is leading emergency operations, exemplified by its coordination role during the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa and outbreaks of Ebola virus disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The agency also runs capacity-building programs, such as training field epidemiologists through the Africa Field Epidemiology Network and supporting the establishment of the African Medicines Agency.

Partnerships and collaborations

The agency maintains strategic partnerships with global and regional institutions to leverage expertise and resources. It works closely with the World Health Organization and its Regional Office for Africa, as well as with entities like the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and China CDC. Collaborations with philanthropic organizations, such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Mastercard Foundation, support specific initiatives. It also partners with regional economic communities like the Economic Community of West African States to harmonize health policies.

Impact and challenges

Significant impacts include the deployment of the Partnership to Accelerate COVID-19 Testing initiative and enhancing genomic sequencing capacity across the continent during the COVID-19 pandemic. The agency has also improved cross-border collaboration during health emergencies, such as the 2022 Uganda Ebola outbreak. Key challenges remain, including securing sustainable financing beyond donor support, navigating complex political landscapes among member states, and addressing infrastructural disparities that hinder equitable health service delivery across diverse regions like the Sahel and Southern Africa.

Category:African Union Category:Public health organizations Category:Health in Africa