Ethiopia and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention have inaugurated CPHIA 2026, a continental health programme designed to strengthen disease prevention and response across the continent.
The inauguration took place with Ethiopia's State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hadera Abera, leading the ceremony. Abera said the launch reflected Africa's commitment to building a healthier and more resilient continent through coordinated health security measures.
CPHIA 2026, which stands for Continental Public Health Institute of Africa, represents a coordinated effort to improve disease surveillance, prevention, and outbreak response across member states. The programme brings together health authorities, disease control experts, and government officials across the continent under a unified framework.
Ethiopia's role as host for the inauguration underscores the country's position as a key player in continental health security. The Africa CDC, headquartered in Addis Ababa, has been driving efforts to strengthen the continent's capacity to detect, prevent, and respond to health threats since its establishment.
The CPHIA 2026 framework is expected to address gaps in disease surveillance systems, improve laboratory capacity, and enhance coordination between African nations during health emergencies. Member states will share real-time data on disease outbreaks and implement joint protocols for rapid response.
Abera's remarks signalled Ethiopia's willingness to support the initiative through technical expertise and institutional support. The country has faced multiple disease outbreaks in recent years and views the programme as essential for protecting its population and contributing to broader continental security.
The Africa CDC will oversee implementation of CPHIA 2026 across participating nations. Technical teams are expected to begin rolling out training programmes and establishing coordination centres in regional blocs within the coming months.
