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.