As women leaders in global health from Nigeria, South Africa, and Zambia, we believe that the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention is facing a crucial milestone in selecting its next director-general. The appointment of the first female head of Africa CDC and the integration of gender-transformative leadership would bring the much needed diversity in perspective and professional expertise of women leaders into the global health discourse.
In July 2002, the African Union made history by adopting an “absolute gender equality” rule at the inaugural session of the heads of state and government — which extends to Africa CDC as a technical institution of the African Union. This gender parity rule of 50% women applies to key decision-making structures, from the commission level through to senior appointments.
In recent years, women's representation in global health governance has been characterized by a downward trend. According to Women in Global Health’s annual count at the 2022 World Health Assembly, less than a quarter of the 194 governments of the world sent delegations headed by women, continuing a trend of a women-dominated sector almost completely controlled by men.