Description: The Africa CDC supports all African Countries to improve surveillance, emergency response, and prevention of infectious diseases. This includes addressing outbreaks, man-made and natural disasters, and public health events of regional and international concern. It further seeks to build the capacity to reduce disease burden on the continent. The Africa CDC is a specialised technical institution of the African Union that serves as a platform for Member States to share knowledge, exchange lessons learnt, build capacity, and provide technical assistance to each other. This African owned institution is guided by principles of leadership, credibility, ownership, delegated authority, timely dissemination of information, transparency, accountability and value addition. The strategic objectives are as follows: establish early warning and response surveillance platforms to address in a timely and effective manner all health emergencies; support public health emergency preparedness and response; assist Member States in collaboration with WHO and others stakeholders to address gaps in International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) compliance; support and/or conduct regional- and country-level hazard mapping and risk assessments for Member States; support Member States in health emergencies response particularly those declared international emergencies as well as , in health promotion and diseases prevention through health systems strengthening, by addressing communicable and non-communicable diseases, environmental health and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs); promote partnership and collaboration among Member States to address emerging and endemic diseases and public health emergencies; harmonise disease control and prevention policies and the surveillance systems in Member States; support Member States in capacity building in public health through, medium and long term field epidemiological and laboratory training programmes. VISION, MISSION VALUES Vision A safer, healthier, integrated and prosperous Africa, in which Member States can efficiently prevent disease transmission, implement surveillance and detection, and always be prepared to respond effectively to health threats and outbreaks. Mission Strengthen Africa’s public health institutions’ capacities, capabilities and partnerships to detect and respond quickly and effectively to disease threats and outbreaks based on science, policy, and data-driven interventions and programs. Values Leadership: The Africa CDC provides strategic direction and promotes public health practice within Member States through capacity building, promotion of continuous quality improvement in the delivery of public health services as well in the prevention of public health emergencies and threats. Credibility: The Africa CDC’s strongest asset is the trust it cultivates with its beneficiaries and stakeholders as a respected, evidence-based institution. It plays an important role in championing effective communication and information sharing across the continent. Ownership: The Africa CDC is an Africa-owned institution. Member States will maintain national-level ownership of the Africa CDC simultaneously through building up and promoting their own national public health systems through direct programmatic engagement, and through an advisory role in shaping Africa CDC priorities. Delegated authority: In the event of a public health emergency on the continent with cross border or regional implications, the Africa CDC is mandated to deploy responders, in consultation with affected Member States, to support Member States in delivering an effective response. The Africa CDC will take the appropriate steps to notify the Commission of its action at the same time Timely dissemination of information: The Africa CDC leadership will regularly update Member States on ongoing actions and seek their support and collaboration. It shall leverage collaboration and networking to and engage Member States in strong partnerships. Transparency: Open interaction and unimpeded information exchange between the Africa CDC and Member States is inherent in the mission of the Africa CDC. Accountability: The Africa CDC is accountable to Member States in its approach to governance and financial administration. Value-addition: In every strategic aim, objective, or activity, the Africa CDC should demonstrate how that initiative adds value to the public health activities of Member States. GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE OF THE AFRICA CDC Governing Board The Governing Board of the Africa CDC provides the overall strategic guidance to the secretariat, in accordance with AU policies and procedures. It examines the decisions and/or proposals submitted by the Secretariat, and submit its recommendations to the African Union Specialised Technical Committee on Health, Population and Drug Control. The board is further tasked with proposed amendments to the Statute of the Africa CDC based on recommendations by the Secretariat. It further ensures that the Africa CDC strategic agenda of disease surveillance, detection and response are integrated into continental development strategy. Advisory & Technical Council The role of the Advisory and Technical Council is to advise on emerging issues and other related matters of disease control and prevention. It further provides advisory on the strategic plans and activities of the Africa CDC; advocacy and resources mobilization. Furthermore the council provides guidance on disease surveillance, detection and response on the African Continent. Additionally it provides insight into the research and study areas and merits of the scientific work of the Africa CDC. Regional Collaborating Centres Regional Collaborating Centres are technical support institutions for the Africa CDC that work closely with the Member States. RCCs support surveillance, laboratory systems and networks, information systems, emergency preparedness and response, capacity development and public health research in countries. Secretariat The Secretariat is led by the Director of the Africa. Its functions are to support Member States to develop appropriate disease surveillance, detection and response policies, programmes, systems and structures. It provides technical support and capacity building to the Member States for disease control and prevention. It further develops and implements strategic advocacy programmes and stakeholder communication plans. The Secretariat is responsible for networking with Member States, WHO, Regional Health Organizations, RECs, private sector organisations, Regional Health Networks, Partners CDCs, and other relevant Stakeholders to attain the objectives of the Africa CDC.
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