Africa welcomes the timely completion of a historic disease control project supported by China

Posted on : Friday , 3rd February 2023

The timely completion of the China-aided Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) headquarters project has sparked hope across Africa, as the continent now has a stronger public health agency capable of advancing health initiatives and dealing with public health disasters.

Senior officials from the African Union (AU) Commission and the Africa CDC, as well as representatives from African countries, Chinese officials, diplomats from the Chinese mission to the AU, and high-level dignitaries, witnessed the historic completion of the Africa CDC headquarters project on the southern outskirts of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital.

Many believe that completing the state-of-the-art headquarters on time will allow the Africa CDC to better play its role in public health coordination, mobilisation, and emergency management across the continent.

The Africa CDC headquarters, according to AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat, "is only the visible face of a health cooperation that has its roots in the depths of Sino-African relations," in his speech at the completion ceremony.

The AU Commission chief described the cutting-edge facility as the result of China-Africa cooperation, symbolising Africa and China's shared desire to develop a partnership visible in concrete works that benefit their populations' well-being.

He stated that the Chinese-aided "futuristic" facility will assist the AU's specialised healthcare agency in continuing to demonstrate the professionalism and commitment that has characterised the agency thus far.

According to the AU, the new Africa CDC headquarters will be one of the best-equipped disease control centres in Africa, allowing Africa CDC to play its role as the technical institution coordinating disease prevention, surveillance, and control on the continent in collaboration with AU member states' national public health institutes and ministries of health.

The Africa CDC headquarters project, which was announced at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) 2018 Beijing Summit, is another significant project for China-Africa cooperation after the AU Conference Center, according to Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang.

He stated that the timely delivery of the Africa CDC headquarters to African friends demonstrates the high standard and level of China-Africa cooperation, demonstrating the Chinese style of keeping promises, efficiency, and pragmatism.

Qin expressed confidence that, with China and Africa working together, the Africa CDC will make greater contributions to the health and well-being of the African people and write a new chapter in African history.

Belete Gubsa, a retired teacher from Ethiopia, said, "We frequently experience disease outbreaks, and once operational, this (the Africa CDC headquarters and its facilities) would allow us to find solutions to our healthcare challenges on our own.

According to Wakjirra Totofa, a public servant, the facility will help Africa respond quickly to current and potential future public health crises.

With the help of this facility, we can conduct research at the first signs of any disease outbreak, just like the rest of the world, and, eventually, find solutions to the most urgent issues facing the populace.

As with the rest of the world, Totofa said, "With the aid of this facility, we can carry out research at the earliest stages of any disease outbreak and, ultimately, solve the biggest challenges confronting the people of Ethiopia and the entire African continent."

According to the AU Commission chairperson, China-Africa health cooperation is "old and exemplary."

According to Faki, exemplary China-Africa health cooperation can be seen in their joint fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, in which the Chinese government and people were at the forefront of supporting Africa's anti-pandemic efforts.

Experts and analysts echoed the AU Commission chairperson's comments, emphasising the multifaceted significance of China-Africa ties in public health.

Costantinos The results of China's "far-reaching assistance to Africa" in the health sector, according to Bt. Costantinos, a professor of public policy at Addis Abeba University, include medical equipment and material support, the development of human resource capacity, the development of intellectual capacity in health, and countless donations of medical supplies and vaccine batches.

The expert insisted that the recently completed Africa CDC headquarters project, as the most recent manifestation of Sino-Africa ties in public health, clearly demonstrates the breadth of China-Africa relations in the field.  

"China contributed the materials, expertise, and funding required to build the African Center for Disease Control. Africa must be extremely grateful to the Chinese government for its enormous contribution to the establishment of health institutions in Africa, as this is precisely what we have been lacking "Costantinos explained.