The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention is working to gain greater independence from the African Union — transitioning from a specialized technical institution to an autonomous public health agency.
Under the umbrella of the AU, the institution has been weighed down by slow processes hindering its ability to respond rapidly to health emergencies. But last February, African heads of state decided to give Africa CDC wings, saying it would amend the institution's statute to allow it to transition to greater autonomy. In July, the AU executive council approved the revised statute.
Now, Africa CDC is trekking forward with implementation. In an interview with Devex, Dr. Ahmed Ogwell Ouma, the acting director, said a majority of the efforts are completed — it has worked to set up new systems for administration, human resources, finance, and procurement.