Africa Public Health Day Symposium, CDC

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Organization of African Public Health Professionals (OAPHP) cordially invites Emory University faculty, staff, and students to attend the third Africa Public Health Day Symposium on Thursday, September 5, 2024, from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm EDT. 

This year’s symposium centers on the ever-important theme: “Digital Health in Africa: Innovations for Sustainable Public Health Systems and Programs.” Experience this exciting hybrid event alongside your CDC colleagues and other public health professionals. Africa Public Health Day 2024 is co-sponsored by CDC’s Center for Global Health (CGH) and the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID). This event will include presentations and engaging discussions featuring champions in all aspects of African public health. 

We ask that you please register using this hyperlink via Zoom or the attached QR code. In-person attendance at CDC Roybal Campus Auditorium A-B19 (GCC) is available until Friday, August 23 and is contingent upon clearance. Indicate on the Zoom link whether you plan to attend virtually or in-person.

The event’s agenda overview is provided below:

Featured Speakers

Mandy K. Cohen, MD, MPH
Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and
Administrator, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

2024 CDC’s OAPHP African Public Health Day Agenda Overview

About OAPHP:

OAPHP’s mission is to contribute to CDC’s public health mission in Africa and promote a safe and diverse work environment that allows members to network and develop professionally. OAPHP is a collective of talented and resourceful public health professionals of African descent or with an interest in public health efforts in Africa.  

The OAPHP Africa Public Health Day symposium aims to: 

• Increase the awareness of CDC’s programs in Africa; 
• Heighten awareness of CDC’s efforts to strengthen disease surveillance, readiness, and workforce capabilities in Africa through science, policy, and effective partnerships; 
• Highlight CDC’s activities related to epidemic preparedness and readiness, workforce development, and capacity-building in Africa; and 
• Inspire opportunities for future engagement and partnership with other public-private partners supporting public health activities in Africa. 

Background 

As the United States’ health protection agency, CDC works 24/7 to save lives and protect people from health threats. CDC has also used its scientific expertise to help people throughout the world live healthier, safer, and longer lives. Africa has the largest CDC presence of any other continent globally.  Furthermore, CDC’s 2022-2027 Strategic Plan of Advancing Science & Health Equity has emphasized the core capabilities of ensuring a diverse public health workforce to address complex diseases while building on the foundation of strong global capacity and domestic preparedness. Recognition of the racial/ethnic, linguistic, geographic, and technical diversity present within the CDC workforce can be the keys to facilitating CDC’s public health work in Africa. Such recognition is relevant as the United Nations has also proclaimed 2015-2024 as the international decade for people of African descent, which includes promoting “knowledge and respect for the diverse heritage, culture, and contributions of people of African descent to the development of societies.” 

Please contact oaphp [at] cdc [dot] gov for more information or to share questions you may have for featured presenters ahead of the event.