Dr. Jean Kaseya was appointed Director-General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa-CDC) during the thirty-sixth African Union Summit of Heads of State and Government in February 2023. Dr. Kaseya, a Congolese Medical Doctor with advanced degrees in Epidemiology and Community Health, brings to this position over 25 years of expertise in the field of public health, having held pivotal roles both at the national and international levels.
As the Director-General of Africa-CDC, Dr. Kaseya oversees the organization’s fundamental political, strategic, and technical functions. At the forefront of his agenda is his commitment to advancing a transformative “New Deal” for Africa CDC, with the primary objective of strengthening health security across the continent. This undertaking involves establishing sustainable and innovative financing mechanisms, enhancing robust governance structures, cultivating technical expertise, strengthening health systems, and efficient response to health crises.
Under Dr. Kaseya’s leadership, the Africa Centres for Disease Control (Africa CDC) demonstrated regional leadership by sounding the continental alarm for mpox and declaring the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of Continental Concern. His efforts facilitated accelerated regulatory approvals for vaccines and secured donation pledges from various countries. This progress was achieved by leveraging vaccine development during inter-outbreak periods, enabling a more agile and effective response to emerging health threats.
Before assuming his role as Director-General of Africa CDC, Dr. Kaseya had a distinguished career, holding multiple significant roles. At the national level, Dr. Kaseya has been entrusted with significant responsibilities, contributing his expertise to the health initiatives of his home country. These roles have included serving as a Senior Adviser to President Laurent Desire Kabila at a ministerial level, where he played a vital role in shaping healthcare policies and strategies. Additionally, he has taken on roles such as the Head of Routine Immunization within the National Expanded Programme on Immunization, showcasing his dedication to enhancing healthcare delivery at the grassroots level.
On the international stage, he has worked with prominent organizations such as UNICEF, Gavi, CHAI, and the World Health Organization, where he has been instrumental in driving forward various health initiatives of continental significance. Dr. Kaseya is a devoted family man and a proud father of three daughters.
