The African Union to launch Africa CDC, a continent-wide Public Health Agency to safeguard Africa’s health
What: Launching of the Africa CDC
Highlights will include:
§ Ribbon cutting ceremony
§ Photo session after the ribbon cutting ceremony
· Visit of the Africa CDC Emergency Operating Center by the Heads of State and Government
· Press conference at 2.30 in briefing room 1
When: January 31, 2017; at 13:00
Where: Ribbon cutting ceremony at African Union Commission Building B
Press conference will be in briefing room 1
Why: Disease threats can spread faster than ever before. Ebola has proven it is time to reinforce Africa’s public health system to combat future health threats. The African Union is establishing an Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa) CDC to establish early warning and response surveillance systems, respond to emergencies, build capacity, and provide technical expertise to address health emergencies in a timely and effective manner. As an African-owned institution, the Africa CDC is uniquely positioned to help protect the health of the continent. It will also join the international networks of public health institutions to share information and improve surveillance of public health threats.
The need for an Africa CDC to support African countries as they monitor and respond to public health threats was recognized by the African Union in 2013 and formalized in 2015. The African Union Ministers of Health meeting in Malabo adopted the Statute of the Africa CDC in July 2015 and urged the fast tracking of the establishment of the institution.
Contact:
Wynne Musabayana | Head of Communication | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission | Tel: (251) 11 551 77 00 | Fax: (251) 11 551 78 44 | E-mail: MusabayanaW@africa-union.org | Web: www.au.int |Addis Ababa | Ethiopia
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