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
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
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 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.
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
