The World Bank announced on Thursday that it will support a program by Africa’s main public health body, the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). The Africa CDC will receive $100 million from the international body in its mission to help and accompany nations on the continent in their struggle to provide better health services.
The World Bank approved the support program, promising to help improve the CDC’s “technical capacity and strengthen its institutional framework to step up support to African countries in preparing for, detecting and responding to disease outbreaks and public health emergencies.” Recent assessments have revealed wide gaps in the preparedness of African countries that disproportionately affect the poorest and most vulnerable,” the World Bank said in a statement.
The African Centers for Disease Control’s support program to combat COVID-19 and future public health risks is aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which endorses health as a fundamental ambition to achieve longer-term development goals. Earlier this year, AU member states granted the Africa CDC the status of an autonomous health authority of the African Union.
