Why we established African epidemic fund, by Africa CDC

The Director General of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Dr Jean Kaseya, has explained that the African Epidemic Fund was established to provide flexible funding to support countries across the continent in outbreak preparedness and response.

Kaseya said that the much-anticipated development is set to be a game-changer and a landmark moment in the fight for improved health security on the continent.

He noted that the Africa CDC now has the flexibility to rapidly deploy funds where they are needed most, allowing for faster and more efficient outbreak responses.

Kaseya stressed that the new epidemic fund offers Africa CDC greater autonomy and agility in outbreak response, adding that the fund will be accessible without the need for approval from any AU organ, giving Africa CDC more autonomy.

He said: “This is the vehicle through which we can receive funding without any limitation, without any bureaucracy, to support African countries in preparing for and responding to outbreaks.

“The fund was formally established following the High-Level Meeting on Domestic Health Financing, a collaborative initiative between Africa CDC, the African Union Commission, and AUDA-NEPAD. It arrives at a crucial time as Africa grapples with multiple health crises, including a Marburg outbreak in Tanzania, Ebola in Uganda, and rising cases of cholera and febrile illnesses in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

“Furthermore, the mpox outbreak remains ongoing; six months after Africa CDC declared it a health emergency of continental concern.”

In February, Africa CDC’s Emergency Consultative Group reviewed the situation, recommending that the outbreak status remain in place due to rising case numbers, the emergence of a highly transmissible new variant, and continued vaccine shortages”.

The challenges surrounding the mpox outbreak have worsened following the suspension of U.S. government aid, which disrupted key outbreak control efforts such as sample collection and shipment.

These disruptions emphasise the urgency for Africa to develop self-sustaining funding mechanisms to address ongoing and future health crises.

Kaseya affirmed that Africa CDC will manage the fund directly; ensuring strict accountability, adding that a governing board will oversee its activities.

“The need for such a fund has never been more pressing, as Africa has witnessed a sharp increase in public health events—from 152 in 2022 to 213 in 2024. This surge highlights the growing vulnerability of African nations to health threats.

“African Epidemic Fund will be available on the Africa CDC website. We want people to see, in real-time, how much funding we receive, how it is being used, and where it is allocated. That’s the level of transparency we are bringing to Africa,” Kaseya added.

Also speaking, Head of the Mpox Incident Support Team at Africa CDC, Dr Ngashi Ngongo, observed that efforts to combat mpox are entering a critical phase, with expectations that the new fund will provide much-needed resources to contain the outbreak.

Ngongo said: “In the next three months, we will focus on getting the outbreak under control, while the final three months of this plan will shift towards early recovery and resilience-building.”

According to Ngongo, the immediate next steps in epidemic control will focus on strengthening surveillance systems, scaling up vaccination campaigns, and enhancing community-based interventions to break transmission chains.

“Africa CDC, in collaboration with WHO and other partners, will continue supporting affected countries by mobilising resources, expanding laboratory capacity, and accelerating vaccination efforts to curb the spread of mpox and other health threats.”