WHAT: Press briefing on the launch of the Africa Pathogen Genomic Initiative             

SPEAKERS

·      Dr. John Nkengasong, Director, African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

·      Dr David Blazes, Surveillance & Epidemiology at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

·      Dr Phillip Febbo, Chief Medical Officer, Illumina, Inc

·      Dr. Leila Luheshi, Associate Director, Clinical and Translational Research, Oxford Nanopore Technologies Ltd

·      Mark Ihimoyan, Director of Business Development (Middle East and Africa), Microsoft Corporation
                      

WHEN: Monday, 12 October 2020

TIME:             7.00–7.45 pm Eastern Africa Time (4.00-4.45 pm GMT)

Connect to the briefing through this link: https://zoom.us/j/93707571508?pwd=ckhQRk1YOUc0aUo5Z2FBeEJrU2V2UT09

Webinar ID: 937 0757 1508

Passcode: 531856

Or iPhone one-tap: US: +13126266799, 93707571508#,,,,,,0#,,531856#  or +13462487799,,93707571508#,,,,,,0#,,531856#

Or Telephone: Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 312 626 6799 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 929 205 6099  or +1 253 215 8782  or +1 301 715 8592

International numbers available: https://zoom.us/u/aexY4RpHGm

Follow livestream of the briefing via the African Union and Africa CDC Facebook pages.

Live stream: https://livestream.com/africanunion/events/9033858

Background Information

The Pathogen Genomic Initiative is a US$100+ million partnership between Africa CDC and several private and non-profit organizations to facilitate the generation and use of essential next-generation sequencing information to improve public health response to COVID-19 and other disease threats, including endemic diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and cholera in Africa. The initiative is an integral part of the Institute for Pathogen Genomics, launched by Africa CDC in 2019, to strengthen capacity in genomic sequencing across Africa.

Africa PGI will be launched on Monday, 12 October 2020 from 5.00 to 7.00 pm Eastern Africa Time. Immediately after the launch, at 7.00 pm, there will be a press briefing to provide more information to journalists and answer their questions.

Journalists are invited to connect and attend the briefing on Monday, 12 October 2020, at 7.00 pm Eastern Africa Time.

·      Journalists will be allowed to ask questions directly online. If you have a question, send your name and the name of your media organization to WhatsApp # +251 945 502 310 or to the Africa CDC Media WhatsApp group and they will be taken by the moderator.

·      You can also ask your questions directly online by raising your hand through the zoom connection.

Media inquiries

Mr Molalet Tsedeke, Tel: +251 911-630631; Email: molalett@africa-union.org; Directorate of Information and Communication; AU Commission

About the African Union

The African Union spearheads Africa’s development and integration in close collaboration with African Union Member States, the Regional Economic Communities and African citizens. AU Vision: to accelerate progress towards an integrated, prosperous and inclusive Africa, at peace with itself, playing a dynamic role in the continental and global arena, effectively driven by an accountable, efficient and responsive Commission. Learn more at: http://www.au.int/en

About Africa CDC

Africa CDC is a specialized technical institution of the African Union which supports Member States in their efforts to strengthen health systems and improve surveillance, emergency response, prevention and control of diseases. Learn more at: http://www.africacdc.org