The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) says it has achieved 95 per cent budget utilisation and expanded its grant portfolio to 463 million dollars under its Director-General, Dr Jean Kaseya.
In a statement issued by its Director of Communication and Public Information, Margaret Edwin, on Monday, Africa CDC said that the achievement reflected a significant institutional growth since 2023.
Edwin said that African heads of state and government recognised Kaseya for the achievement and leadership in advancing health security across Africa.
She said the recognition underscored a period of institutional transformation and measurable progress since Kaseya assumed office in 2023.
The official said the agency had strengthened operational performance, expanded direct programme management, and accelerated support to African Union member-states in key areas, including emergency preparedness, research and outbreak response.
She quoted Kaseya to have reacted to the honour in a message to the agency’s staff, saying that Kaseya described the recognition as a collective achievement.
“I receive this recognition with great humility. It reflects the commitment, professionalism and hard work that Africa CDC teams bring everyday.
“This achievement is truly ours, and I am deeply grateful for the dedication, resilience and excellence that make our impact possible,” she quoted Kaseya as saying.
She highlighted major gains recorded by Africa CDC since 2023, including increase in budget utilisation from 34 per cent to 95 per cent and rise in its directly managed grant portfolio from 52 million dollars to 463 million dollars.
Edwin said that the agency also reported active contribution to the mobilisation of over 40 billion dollars for African Union member-states, alongside expansion in public health infrastructure.
According to her, the number of national public health institutes grew from 19 to 36, while public health emergency operations centres increased from 15 to 36.
She added that countries with pathogen genomics capacity rose from seven in 2020 to 46 in 2026, with the Africa CDC leading 48 continental research projects from none previously.
Edward said the achievements had strengthened the agency’s response to major health threats, including mpox, Marburg virus disease, Ebola and Cholera.
She noted that in August 2024, Africa CDC declared the mpox outbreak a public health emergency, marking the first use of its expanded mandate to coordinate a unified continental response.
The declaration, Edward noted, led to the establishment of a Joint Continental Incident Management Support Team co-led with the World Health Organisation, bringing together more than 28 partners under a unified framework.
She added that through the mechanism, Africa CDC and partners enhanced surveillance, laboratory systems, case management, vaccination, risk communication and cross-border coordination in affected countries.
She said that the agency was strengthening its technical leadership through the appointment of senior advisers and experts to drive implementation of the Africa Health Security and Sovereignty agenda.
She said that the initiative aimed to position Africa as a key player in the global health architecture, while promoting resilience, self-reliance and sustainable health systems across the continent.
According to the official, Africa CDC has expressed appreciation to the African Union Commission, African heads of state, African ministers of health, partners and communities for continued support.
He was appointed the first Director-General of the institution by the Assembly of the African Union during its 36th Ordinary Session for a four-year mandate.
