02 February 2021, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is announcing the postponement of the inaugural International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA), originally scheduled to be held as an in-person event from 12-14 May 2021 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
In light of many African nations currently experiencing a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as ongoing plans for COVID-19 vaccine rollout across the continent, the Africa CDC has decided to postpone the conference in an effort to focus on slowing transmission of the virus.
The conference theme aimed to focus on COVID-19 in Africa one year later, while reviewing lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and opportunities to re-evaluate the new normal in public health practice in Africa. A new date for the conference has not yet been set at this time, and will be announced to the public once officials have determined the most appropriate plans to ensure the safety of all participants.
The Africa CDC shares its deepest gratitude to healthcare workers and first responders for their tireless efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic on the continent, and extends its sympathies and messages of support to all those who have been afflicted by COVID-19 or otherwise adversely impacted by the pandemic to date.