The African Union is currently recruiting for the new director general of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention to replace founding director Dr. John Nkengasong, following his appointment as U.S. global AIDS coordinator and special representative for global health diplomacy. The chatter across the global health community has been whether Africa can find another leader of Nkengasong’s global stature and competence to lead Africa CDC in its next phase and tackle pressing challenges. Having had the privilege of working with many African public health leaders, the talent is there — we just need to find it.
Nkengasong positioned Africa CDC as the leading public health institution for the continent. With the backing of political leaders across the continent and the support of the leadership of the AU commission, he gave the continent a unified and respected technically sound and politically astute voice in global health.
His leadership of the institution and the continent in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has been lauded across the globe, and trust in his steering of the institution resulted in the development of many partnerships with global health players and donors.
About the author
Dr. Ebere Okereke
Dr. Ebere Okereke is a public health physician with extensive experience in public health policy, strategy, program development and implementation. She specializes in global health security, health system strengthening, and leadership development. Okereke is a senior technical adviser at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change and honorary senior public health adviser to the director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
