Stories of Impact

Highlighting how collaborative public health action strengthens Africa’s resilience and saves lives across the continent.

Laboratory Systems and Networks
Zimbabwe Revamps Labs Plan with Africa CDC support

Zimbabwe looks forward to revamping its health infrastructure, technological tools, and skills development following a new five-year plan for national laboratories. In a major step towards strengthening laboratory systems across the continent, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention ...

Africa CDC Institutes
Human Resources for Health in Africa

Human Resources for Health (HRH) is a critical pillar for strengthening health systems and achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Africa. A well-functioning health workforce is essential for delivering quality healthcare services, responding effectively to health emergencies, and improving population ...

New Public Health Order
Africa’s Plan to Fill Health Funding Gaps Amidst Declining Coffers

Africa’s top public health institution is planning to tap more funds from domestic sources to protect the gains made over the past two decades in epidemic preparedness and response, following a steep decline in external support. Since the decline of Official ...

Institute for Workforce Development
Health Workforce Plight in Africa

The movement of African health professionals away from their home countries, predominantly towards higher-income nations is a critical challenge to the sustainability and resilience of African health systems. The loss of skilled personnel is worsening workforce shortages, undermining healthcare delivery ...

Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM)
Getting to Know the Regional Capacity and Capability Network for North Africa

The Moroccan consortium, led by Institut Pasteur du Maroc, was appointed co-host of Africa CDC’s North Africa Regional Capacity and Capability Network (RCCN) to advance regional vaccine innovation and sustainable biomanufacturing training across the African continent. Here’s how they are helping build the continent’s ...

New Public Health Order
Africa CDC Supports Angola to Fight Cholera

Angola received 2,000 life-saving oral cholera vaccines for frontline healthcare workers from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in March 2025. Dr. Ngashi Ngongo, Principal Advisor to the Director General of Africa CDC on Programs, represented H.E. Dr. Jean ...

Community Health Workers
Planning for Outbreak Response Readiness

They are trained, equipped, and programmed to save lives during outbreaks. They are a human shield designed to stop the spread of infections on command. The passionate African Volunteers Health Corps (AVoHC), a network of African medical and public health ...

Emergency Response and Preparedness
Burundi Revises Outbreak Response Plans

Burundi has revised and approved its Mpox Response Plan and Marburg-Ebola Preparedness Plan, signaling a high-level commitment to strengthening outbreak response efforts in the country. A validation meeting organized by the Ministry of Health on March 11 brought together a ...

African Vaccine Manufacturing
The Power of the Mpox Jab: Saving Lives in Kinshasa

In the heart of Pakadjuma, one of the most underserved districts in Kinshasa, a powerful story of resilience and public health leadership is unfolding. Following the declaration of a national mpox outbreak in December 2022, the Democratic Republic of the ...

Laboratory Systems and Networks
New Test Added to Recommended List of Molecular Diagnostic Tests for Mpox

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Diagnostic Advisory Committee (DAC) on March 12, 2025, added a new point -of -care test for mpox on its recommended list of Molecular Diagnostic Tests. This update captured in thefourth ...

Emergency Response and Preparedness
Can Africa Get Better at Fighting Epidemics and Infodemics?

In 2014, as the Ebola outbreak swept through Sierra Leone, fear spread even faster than the virus itself. One dangerous rumor claimed that bathing in hot saltwater could prevent Ebola infection. Families, acting on this hearsay, bathed their children in ...

Surveillance and Disease Intelligence
New Leadership for Disease Surveillance Bureau in Central Africa

The Central Africa Regional Laboratory and Surveillance Network (RISLNET) has appointed new office bearers to champion better health security in the region. Member States appointed a new board, developed a clear roadmap, and adopted a new operating framework aligned with the strategic priorities ...