Africa CDC IPC Legal Framework
In October 2017, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) launched its Framework for Antimicrobial Resistance Control to minimise infections within healthcare facilities significantly. In April 2018, a workshop was convened involving Member States and partners to determine priorities for implementing this framework. A primary recommendation was to define minimum standards for […]
Africa CDC at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA): Advocating for Stronger Africa’s Health Security
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is an annual event of the United Nations. It is the peak of global policymaking as it provides a pivotal platform for the world to address global challenges collectively. The 78th session in New York in September 2023 witnessed an unprecedented focus on health, with three High-Level Meetings dedicated […]
Diphtheria Outbreak in Africa: Strengthening Response Capacities
Africa is facing recurrent infectious disease outbreaks, with diphtheria re-emerging in four African Union Member States: Algeria, Guinea, Niger, and Nigeria. As of October 9, 2023, 14,587 cases with a case fatality rate of 4.1% have been reported across these Member States, with Nigeria alone accounting for over 90% of the cases. The Federal Republic […]
Advancing Strategies for Zoonotic Disease Prioritization
The African continent has a significant burden of zoonotic diseases, with both competent vectors and environmental conditions that support the propagation of zoonotic diseases with pandemic potential. Zoonotic influenza viruses and viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) such as Ebola, Marburg, Lassa fever and Rift Valley fever (RVF) viruses are examples of these diseases. Severe illness and […]
The Kofi Annan Fellowship in Global Health Leadership Program
Building the Future of Public Health in Africa The Kofi Annan Fellowship in Global Health Leadership Program has emerged as an inspiring initiative led by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) with the aim of transforming public health leadership in Africa. Launched in 2020, the Fellowship Program has been making significant […]
Lessons Learnt from the Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) Outbreak in Tanzania
On March 16, 2023, the Tanzania Ministry of Health declared an outbreak of an unidentified illness in Bukoba district, Kagera region. A group of seven individuals presented with fever, vomiting, bleeding from various body orifices, and kidney failure, sparking suspicion of a contagious disease. Laboratory results from patients and the deceased confirmed the Marburg virus […]
Africa CDC Certification Program for Biosafety and Biosecurity Professionals
In April 2019, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) launched the Biosafety and Biosecurity Initiative, a progressive effort aimed at strengthening biosafety and biosecurity systems in African Union (AU) Member States. The primary objective was to ensure compliance with national and international standards, including the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005), the […]
A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICA CDC HEALTH ECONOMICS PROGRAMME
Launch of Continental Framework to Support the Institutionalization of Evidence-Informed Priority-setting in Africa The Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Heath Economics Programme launched a priority initiative to facilitate the development and roll-out of a continental strategy to promote the institutionalization of Evidence Informed Priority-setting (EIPS) at continental, regional and country levels […]
Highlights of the World Health Assembly (WHA76): Fostering Continued Partnership Engagements for Global Health Security
On the margins of the Seventy-sixth World Health Assembly (WHA76), in Geneva, Switzerland, from 21–30 May 2023, The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) hosted two side-events in addition to several high-level engagements with multilateral and bilateral partners. Under the leadership of H.E. Dr Jean Kaseya, the Director General, Africa CDC hosted […]
International Exchange Study Visit for improved and Strengthened Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System in Africa
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a growing and urgent threat in Africa. With nearly 1.3 million deaths attributed to AMR in 2019, Inadequate monitoring and control measures by governments have worsened the situation, hindering the prevention of resistant micro-organisms. If immediate action is not taken, millions of Africans are estimated to lose their lives to antimicrobial […]