Pioneering Partnership: Africa CDC and China CDC Elevate Public Health Initiatives

The leadership of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the China Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) recently affirmed their commitment to bolster collaboration in advancing public health in Africa. Key areas of focus include disease diagnosis, infectious disease management, workforce development, outbreak response, surveillance, and early warning systems.

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State-of-the-Art Laboratory Unveiled to Address Healthcare Gaps

During a notable visit by Dr. Shen Hongbing, the Director General of China CDC, and H.E. Ambassador Hu Changchun, the Head of China Mission to the African Union, a cutting-edge Reference Laboratory was unveiled at the Africa CDC Office. Constructed with the support of the People’s Republic of China, the laboratory aims to bridge significant gaps in African laboratory systems. The facility is equipped with biosafety level (BSL) laboratories, including specialized BSL-II and high containment laboratories (BSL-III), addressing critical shortcomings in diagnostic capabilities on the continent.

Named after Chinese Scientist Dr. Wu Lien-teh, a pioneer of modern medicine in China, the Africa CDC Reference Laboratory is poised to transform healthcare in Africa. With full-scale capabilities, the laboratory will play a pivotal role in expanding laboratory services, conducting pathogen research, and enhancing epidemiology on the continent. The facility is positioned as a training and quality assurance center, offering support for diagnostic technology evaluation, research and development, and outbreak confirmation, contributing to Africa CDC’s vision of becoming a world-class organization.

China-Africa Health Cooperation Enters a New Chapter

Hu highlighted the significance of the new headquarters and Dr. Wu Lien-teh Laboratory, stating that it will usher in a new era of public health in Africa. The China-Africa health cooperation is expected to gain momentum through initiatives supporting industrialization, agricultural modernization, and talent development. The collaboration aims to contribute to the health and safety of people in Africa and worldwide, aligning with Dr. Wu Lien-teh’s legacy of modernizing China’s public health system a century ago.

Author

Sinead Huang