Africa CDC unveils new structure to fight diseases

New director Jean Kaseya lauds developments, as body plans to grow tenfold

Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has ushered in a new governance structure that will see the organisation grow tenfold and improve its ability to fight illness on the continent, its new director has said.

The body inaugurated its revamped 20-member Advisory and Technical Council at a meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, on 10 July. Made up of national and international health-body representatives, as well as members of the recently launched Southern Africa Regional Integrated Surveillance and Laboratory Network, the council is part of efforts to strengthen Africa CDC as an independent body, and allows for stronger leadership and ownership by African member states, the body said.