The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the Southern Africa Center for Infectious Disease Surveillance (SACIDS) have agreed to collaborate on preparing and responding to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. This collaboration is in response to the agreement reached by Africa Health Ministers during a meeting convened by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 22 February 2020. The high-level meeting endorsed a continent-wide strategy for COVID-19 to be implemented by the Africa Taskforce on Coronavirus Preparedness and Response (AFTCOR).
The partnership between Africa CDC and SACIDS will focus on COVID-19 diagnosis and surveillance in selected African Union Member States considered to be at highest risk. It will build on existing systems for monitoring influenza-like illnesses and severe acute respiratory infections. The two institutions will implement joint activities within the surveillance and laboratory working groups of AFTCOR.
SACIDS will also support activities of other working groups within AFTCOR as appropriate.
Thank you.
Dr. John Nkengasong
Director, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
For more information, contact
Mr. James AYODELE | Principal Communication Officer | Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention | African Union Commission: E-mail: AyodeleJ@africa-union.org | Tel: +251 953 912 454
Mr. Thomas NGBONGA | Information and Communication Officer | Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention | African Union Commission: E-mail: ZindotealaS@africa-union.org | Tel: +251 904 649 135
About the Africa CDC
The Africa CDC mission is to strengthen Africa’s public health institution’s capacities, capabilities and partnerships to detect and respond quickly and effectively to disease threats and outbreaks based on science, policy, and data- driven interventions and programmes.
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