The first phase of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) headquarters project was inaugurated today in the presence of Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang and African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat.
The inauguration ceremony was also attended by the Ambassador and Head of Mission of China to the African Union, Changchun, Ambassadors of AU member states to Ethiopia, and representatives from Chinese companies in Ethiopia.
The project has a gross floor area of 23,570 m2 and includes Administrative Offices, an Emergency Response Center, an Information Center, and Biological Laboratories. Once completed, it will be the African continent’s first pan-African Center for Disease Control and Prevention, fully equipped with modern administrative, experimental, and other supporting facilities.
Africa will then be able to improve its disease prevention and monitoring capabilities, respond to epidemic emergencies more quickly, and strengthen its public health system and capacity, resulting in tangible benefits for the African people.
The state-of the-art facility is expected to accelerate Africa’s efforts to implement a proactive disease prevention strategy.
According to the state media, when the project is fully completed, the building will include an emergency operation center, a data center, a laboratory, a resource center, briefing rooms, a training center, a conference center, offices, and expatriate apartments, all of which will be built, furnished, and equipped by the Chinese government.
Africa CDC is a specialized technical institution of the African Union established to support member countries’ public health initiatives and strengthen their public health institutions’ capacity to detect, prevent, control, and respond to disease threats in a timely and effective manner.
It should be noted that construction of the multi-building facility began in December 2020, with the construction work being completed by the construction giant, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).
