MEDIA ADVISORY

African Union / Africa CDC Delegation to the

76^th World Health Assembly (WHA76)

NOTICE TO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEDIA

The African Union (AU) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) announce their full participation in the 76^th Session of the World Health Assembly (WHA76), scheduled from 21^st -- 30^th May 2023 in Geneva; through a delegation headed by H.E. Ambassador Minata Samate Cessouma, Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, AUC, and H.E. Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC.

This delegation will form part of the opening ceremony and key plenary sessions of WHA76, and also host several high-level Ministerial side-events on the sidelines of the assembly as follows:

1. Extraordinary Session of the Working Group on Health of the Specialised Technical Committee on Health, Population and Drug Control (STC Health-PDC)

                Date: Saturday 20^th May 2023

Time: 12:00pm CEST

Venue: Hotel Royal, Geneva (Closed meeting)

2. High-Level Ministerial Side Event on Community Health Workforce, Systems and Programs in Africa.

Theme: “What will it take for effective institutionalization and sustainability?”

Date: Wednesday, 24^th May 2023

Time: 12:00 – 2:00pm CEST

Venue: International Museum of the Red Cross

3. High-level Ministerial Meeting on the Establishment of a Harmonized Africa Health Manufacturing Platform

Date: Wednesday 24^th May 2023

Time: 2:00-5:00pm CEST

Venue: Mandarin Oriental Hotel

4. Official launch of the 5-year Africa CDC & WHO Joint Emergency Preparedness and Response Action Plan (JEAP) for Africa (Co-hosted by Africa CDC and WHO)

Theme: “A Unified Africa for Health Security: Working Together to Strengthen Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience”.

Date: Thursday, 25^th May 2023

Time: 6:30-8:30pm CEST

Venue: Forum Auditorium, Geneva

                  Register here for the event: bit.ly/HealthSecurityInAfrica     

                 Attend virtually: https://tinyurl.com/4nn4z2fn

Media Interview Request: Journalists may submit request for interviews with the AU/Africa CDC officials by sending their full name, the name of their media organization and topics to be discussed during the interview to nakwafilan@africa-union.org and GwehN@africa-union.org or through this WhatsApp #: +251 94 550 2310.

NOTE: Any request for an interview will only be confirmed based on the availability of the official.

Media inquiries:

Ndahafa Nakwafila, Senior Communication Officer - Policy, Health Diplomacy & Communication: Africa CDC | Tel: +251 929 979 820 | Email: nakwafilan@africa-union.org

G. Nekerwon Gweh, Communication Officer - Policy, Health Diplomacy & Communication; Africa CDC | Tel: +251 945 502 310 | Email: GwehN@africa-union.org

About Africa CDC

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is a continental autonomous Public Health agency 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

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