Technical experts to review Roadmap for the establishment of the African Centre for Disease Control and Prevention

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October 27, 2014

Addis Ababa- 27 October 2014: Ahead of the African Union Summit in January 2015 the African Union taskforce for the establishment of the African Union Centre for Disease Control and Prevention will meet on 29 and 30 October 2014 at the headquarters of the African Union.

“The establishment of the African Centre for Disease Control and Prevention is a major priority of the African Union and we are committed to ensuring that it is functional by mid 2015’ said Dr. Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko, “The emergence of the Ebola epidemic in the West Africa sub-region and its potential to sidetrack Africa’s peace and security and socio-economic development agenda has provided further impetus for its establishment” he further underlined.

The taskforce which is constituted of 15 Member State Experts will analyse the policies and requires strategic frameworks for the establishment and operation of the African CDC including a comprehensive terms of reference, minimum infrastructure, human resource capacity and capability to attain African CDC objectives. It will also map out a clear roadmap with clear timelines for the establishment and functioning of the African CDC by mid 2015.
With hindsight and farsighted leadership, the African Union Heads of State and Government met in Abuja in July 2013 for the African Union Special Summit on HIV and AIDS, TB and Malaria (ATM) and directed the Commission to coordinate efforts for the speedy establishment of the African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (African CDC). Subsequently during the 22nd Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Summit that was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in January 2014, the Assembly of Heads of State and Government (under Assembly Decision/AU/Dec.499 (XXII)) stressed on the urgency of establishing an African Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention. The Assembly then extended the mandate of the African Union Commission to work out the modalities, financial and legal implications for the ACDC in collaboration with relevant partners.

Consequently the Health Ministers committed in April 2014 to accelerate the implementation of the Assembly Decision and agreed on the creation of multinational taskforce by May 2014 to define the modalities and to work on the roadmap for the establishment of the African CDC, including the legal, structural and financial implications relating to the Center. The AU Commission, World Health Organisation (WHO) and other identified relevant stakeholders were tasked to provide technical support towards the establishment of the African CDC.

At its 16th Extraordinary Session of the African Union Executive Council meeting on Ebola held on 8 September 2014, the Council decided to request the AU Commission to take all the necessary steps to ensure the functioning of the ACDC, together with the establishment of regional centres by mid-2015.

The meeting will be attended by experts nominated by Member States, Regional Health Organisations, African Union International Bureau for Animal Resources, United Nations Organisations, US CDC, European CDC and China CDC who are all our key partners in the implementation of the Roadmap for the establishment of the African Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.

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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 peacewith 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/

Health, Humanitarian Affairs & Social Development (HHS)