The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention marked its seventh anniversary on Wednesday. The organization, which was launched in 2017, has evolved significantly in recent years — both in its effectiveness and the scope of the responsibilities it holds. But it’s also struggling to finance this growth.
Director-General Dr. Jean Kaseya said it aims to have a yearly budget of at least $1 billion during a ceremony celebrating the milestone. The organization, over the course of its lifetime, has mobilized more than $2.4 billion from over 200 institutions, he said.
In recent years, it played a pivotal role in leading the continent’s COVID-19 pandemic response and has since been on a path toward achieving greater autonomy from the African Union, which includes a new governance structure.