Newly Launched African Epidemic Fund to Strengthen Health Security
The African Epidemic Fund is now operational, providing the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) with flexible funding to support countries across the continent in outbreak preparedness and response. This much-anticipated development is set to be a game-changer. No longer constrained by bureaucratic hurdles, Africa CDC now has the flexibility to rapidly deploy funds where they are […]
Traditional Healers Join Tanzania’s Marburg Response
In rural Tanzania, traditional healers are often the first point of care for people experiencing illness. From treating fevers and infections to addressing perceived spiritual afflictions, healers hold a central place in their communities. But what happens when symptoms of a deadly disease—like vomiting blood or severe diarrhea—are mistaken for witchcraft? For years, Meriam Mapinduzi Kagazi, a traditional healer […]
Fighting Multiple Outbreaks in Zambia’s Copperbelt
Rain lashes the ground in northern Zambia, but the mission presses on. It’s a Wednesday in January, and the showers that drench this region—bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo to the north and east—have done little to dampen the resolve of four epidemiologists. They are here on a 14-day mission, working urgently to contain simultaneous outbreaks of cholera, mpox, […]
Funding Options for Health Products Manufacturing in Africa Tabled
Development finance institutions (DFIs) are stepping up to accelerate Africa’s pharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturing ambitions, marking a new phase in the continent’s push for self-sufficiency in health products. Funding proposals were presented during the 2nd Vaccine and Health Products Manufacturing Forum, held in Cairo from February 4-6, 2025. At this gathering Africa CDC, Gavi, the […]
Cameroon Prepares to Launch National Strategy on Maternal Health
For many women in Cameroon, childbirth remains a significant health risk. Despite medical advancements, the country continues to have one of the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in the region. In 2020, an estimated 438 women per 100,000 live births died from pregnancy-related complications, according to the World Bank’s Gender Data Portal. While maternal mortality declined slightly to 406 deaths per 100,000 […]
Cold Chain Infrastructure Expansion Set to Improve Digalu Tijo’s Health Service
In Ethiopia, maintaining the potency of life-saving vaccines is a huge challenge, especially in rural communities and those affected by conflict, where cold chain infrastructure is generally weak. It was the order of the day for one of Ethiopia’s 3,706 public health centers and 17,561 health posts, the Sagure Health Center in Digalu Tijo district, Oromia […]
Tanzania Strengthens Cross-Border Disease Control
Kagera, a critical border region in Tanzania, serves as a gateway connecting multiple countries, including Uganda, Burundi, and Rwanda. Its strategic position makes it highly vulnerable to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. With the Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) in Tanzania and concurrent outbreaks such as Ebola in Uganda, Mpox in the DRC and Burundi, cross-border public health collaboration has never been […]
Regional Networks to Strengthen Africa’s Vaccine and Health Products Manufacturing Workforce
In a move to accelerate Africa’s capacity to produce its own vaccines and other health products, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has established Regional Capability and Capacity Networks (RCCNs) to drive skills development, workforce training and R&D. Africa has set an ambitious goal of manufacturing a significant portion of its […]
$1.6m Allocated to Nine National Public Health Institutes Centers of Excellence
The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has set aside $1.6million for nine newly designated National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) across Africa as regional Centers of Excellence. “As a Center of Excellence, your NPHI will serve as a regional hub for peer-to-peer technical assistance, training, and mentorship. It will also support Member […]
Science Journal Plans to Grow Output
The Journal of Public Health in Africa (JPHIA), owned by Africa CDC, is planning to surpass its past publication output from African authors through mentorship. Mentoring researchers and further moving public health discourse from the background to the forefront, will highlight Africa CDC’s contributions to shaping evidence-based policies and interventions to address pressing health challenges […]