Connecting Young People to Public Health Leadership
Young people contribute to public health as community advocates, researchers, innovators and health professionals. The Africa CDC Youth Programme supports them in shaping policy, developing professional skills, and leading initiatives that address their communities’ health needs. The programme grew from the African Union COVID-19 Vaccination Bingwa Initiative, launched in April 2022, which trained and deployed […]
Reference Lab for Disease Detection and Research
The Centre of Excellence for Diagnostic Research and Innovation (CEDRI), based at Africa CDC headquarters in Addis Ababa, is strengthening laboratory capacity for disease detection, surveillance, research and outbreak response across the continent. The reference laboratory brings together advanced molecular diagnostics, genomic sequencing and specialised biosafety facilities. These capabilities enable earlier detection of emerging pathogens, […]
One Health: Strengthening Coordinated Health Security
The One Health Programme works to strengthen coordination across human, animal and environmental health to prevent, detect and respond to public health threats. Established in 2018, the programme supports African Union Member States in adopting integrated approaches to disease surveillance, preparedness and response, recognising that many health threats emerge at the intersection of people, animals […]
African Pooled Procurement Mechanism Expands Access to Health Products
Africa’s heavy reliance on imported medicines and other essential health products exposes countries to supply disruptions, high procurement costs and unpredictable international markets. Fragmented purchasing also limits opportunities for African manufacturers to expand production and compete across the continent. To address these challenges, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is implementing […]
Ready Before the Next Health Emergency Strikes
The African Volunteer Health Corps (AVoHC) deploys trained public health professionals to support countries during health emergencies. Established after lessons from the 2014–2016 West Africa Ebola crisis, AVoHC brings together epidemiologists, laboratory scientists, clinicians, logisticians, and other specialists to strengthen national response capacity. The initiative builds on the African Union’s mobilisation of more than 800 […]
Digital Health Systems and Data Sovereignty
Fragmented health information systems, limited digital infrastructure and gaps in data governance continue to affect healthcare delivery, disease surveillance and public health decision-making across African Union Member States. Addressing these challenges requires secure, interoperable systems that enable countries to manage and use their health data effectively. Through its Digital Health and Information Systems (DHIS) Division, […]
Fellowship Programmes to Strengthen Africa’s Health Systems
Africa CDC is investing in the next generation of African public health professionals through fully funded fellowship programmes that combine specialised training, mentorship and practical experience. These initiatives aim to strengthen national health institutions, develop leadership capacity and equip countries to address emerging and existing public health challenges. The Kofi Annan Fellowship in Global Health […]
Strengthening Africa’s Genomics Capacity
The Africa Pathogen Genomics Initiative (Africa PGI), another Africa CDC flagship programme, is strengthening the continent’s capacity to detect, monitor and respond to infectious disease threats through genomic surveillance and improved laboratory diagnostics. Launched in October 2020, the initiative has expanded genomic sequencing capacity from just seven African Union Member States in 2019 to 52 […]
Making Health Investments Count
Sustainable health financing is essential to building resilient health systems and improving access to essential services. Across Africa, governments face growing pressure to meet competing health priorities with limited resources, while reducing dependence on external funding. Through its Health Economics and Financing Division, Africa CDC works with African Union Member States to improve how health […]
Journal of Public Health in Africa Strengthens Scientific Publishing
The Journal of Public Health in Africa (JPHIA), a peer-reviewed, open-access journal owned by Africa CDC, is expanding opportunities for African researchers to publish scientific evidence that informs public health policy and practice. Africa accounts for roughly a quarter of the global disease burden but produces only about 3% of published health research. JPHIA seeks […]