Elevating the health of 1.5 billion people is the driving mission of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Ever since it was granted autonomy from the African Union more than three years ago, the Pan-African public health agency has plowed ahead with greater responsibilities, a larger budget, and heightened visibility.
“Yesterday, Africa CDC was a small player. Today, Africa CDC is a big elephant in the room,” the organization’s director-general, Dr. Jean Kaseya, said during a Devex event. “We are the convening power in Africa.”
But with rapid growth often come growing pains, and Africa CDC — including Kaseya — has had its fair share.
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About the authors
Sara Jervingsarajerving
Sara Jerving is a Senior Reporter at Devex, where she covers global health. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, VICE News, and Bloomberg News among others. Sara holds a master's degree from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism where she was a Lorana Sullivan fellow. She was a finalist for One World Media's Digital Media Award in 2021; a finalist for the Livingston Award for Young Journalists in 2018; and she was part of a VICE News Tonight on HBO team that received an Emmy nomination in 2018. She received the Philip Greer Memorial Award from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in 2014.
Rumbi Chakamba
Rumbi Chakamba is a Senior Editor at Devex based in Botswana, who has worked with regional and international publications including News Deeply, The Zambezian, Outriders Network, and Global Sisters Report. She holds a bachelor's degree in international relations from the University of South Africa.
