Africa Centres for Diseases Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)

In January 2015, the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) endorsed the establishment of a public health institute dedicated to the African continent. The purpose of this new organization, known as the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), is to reduce sickness and death by improving prevention, detection, and response to public health threats. The AU Member States will be the direct beneficiaries of the Africa CDC. By supporting African countries in their efforts to monitor the public’s health, respond to emergencies, address complex health challenges, and build needed capacity, the Africa CDC will help close dangerous gaps in Africa’s public health systems. The Africa CDC Coordination Office is based at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. However, five Regional Collaborating Centres, one in each region of the continent, will help execute the day-to-day work of the organization and ensure that the continent is supported at the point of need.