Experts discuss key priorities for the establishment of the African Centre for Disease Control and Prevention

Addis Ababa- 31 October 2014: African Union Member States experts deliberated on the modalities for the Establishment of the African Centre for Disease Control and Prevention from 29 to 30 October 2014 at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa Ethiopia.
“ I am confident that this meeting will map out a roadmap with clear timelines for the establishment and functioning of the African CDC by mid 2015” said H.E Dr. Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko, the AUC Commissioner for Social Affairs during the official opening of the two day meeting.
Member States experts deliberated on key decision points including the strategic direction looking at the vision, mission and guiding principles; the key strategic activities such as the establishment of event based surveillance systems, addressing gaps in International Health Regulations compliance in Member States; supporting public health emergency preparedness and response; regional and country level hazard mapping and risk assessments.
The meeting also looked at the African CDC governance structure and its financial, legal and operational implications and operation issues such as human resources, collaboration, phases of the development of the centre, infrastructure requirements and budget.
The African Centre for Disease Control and Prevention is being established following the decision at the African Union Special Summit on HIV and AIDS, TB and Malaria (ATM) in Abuja in July 2013, in which the Heads of State and Government took cognisance of the need for an African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (African CDC) to conduct life-saving research on priority health problems in Africa and to serve as a platform to share knowledge and build capacity in responding to public health emergencies and threats. The outbreak of the Ebola epidemic has provided the impetus to speed up the establishment of the African CDC for early detection, preparedness and response.

For further information contact
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia
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