Africa CDC Sets Strategic Health Priorities at 39th AU Summit as Continent Advances Africa Health Strategy
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As African Heads of State and Government convene in Addis Ababa for the 39th African Union Summit, continental health leadership takes centre stage with an official press briefing by the Director General of Africa CDC, H.E. Dr Jean Kaseya.
Held on 11 February 2026 at the African Union Commission headquarters in Media Briefing Room 3, the high level engagement places Africa’s public health agenda firmly within the broader framework of Agenda 2063 and continental integration.
Africa CDC Positions Health as a Strategic Pillar of Continental Development
During the official press briefing, Dr Jean Kaseya is expected to outline Africa CDC’s priorities and progress under the Africa Health Strategy. The session will highlight key achievements, ongoing initiatives, and emerging challenges shaping Africa’s health landscape at a critical moment for the continent.
Africa CDC, as the autonomous public health agency of the African Union, plays a central role in supporting Member States to strengthen health systems, enhance disease surveillance, improve emergency response capacity, and coordinate prevention and control of infectious diseases across the continent.
The briefing signals a clear institutional message: health security is not a sectoral issue. It is foundational to economic growth, political stability, and regional integration.
From Emergency Response to Long Term System Strengthening
Africa’s health agenda has evolved significantly in recent years. While outbreak response and epidemic preparedness remain core priorities, the Africa Health Strategy increasingly focuses on structural resilience.
Key areas shaping Africa CDC’s work include:
• Strengthening national public health institutions
• Improving cross border disease surveillance and data systems
• Expanding laboratory and diagnostic capacity
• Supporting Member States in emergency preparedness and response
• Advancing continental coordination on pandemic prevention
• Enhancing workforce development in public health
The press engagement at the AU Summit provides an opportunity to assess progress while addressing new challenges facing the continent’s health systems.
Media Engagement at a Strategic Moment
The official press briefing takes place on the margins of the 39th AU Summit, reinforcing the importance of health governance at the highest political level. Accredited journalists are invited to participate, with opportunities for one on one interviews with the Director General and subject matter experts.
The session reflects the African Union’s broader effort to integrate public health strategy within its political and development agenda.
As Africa navigates global health reforms, evolving disease patterns, and financing pressures, Africa CDC continues to position itself as the coordinating backbone of continental health security.
Health as a Continental Priority
Africa CDC’s mandate aligns directly with Agenda 2063’s aspirations for a prosperous and resilient Africa. Health system strengthening, disease prevention, and coordinated emergency response are no longer peripheral issues. They are core elements of economic transformation and human development.
The 39th AU Summit provides a platform not only to review achievements but to reinforce collective political commitment to health sovereignty and sustainable public health systems.
Africa is still building institutions that many regions have had decades to consolidate. But the trajectory is clear. The continent is shaping its own health architecture, strengthening coordination, and building systems designed to serve African realities.
The future of Africa’s development is inseparable from the strength of its health systems. And that future is being shaped in Addis Ababa this week, by leaders determined to build resilient systems for a continent whose story is still unfolding.
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