President Tinubu Approves Establishment of Africa-CDC Regional Coordinating Centre in Nigeria

In a move highlighting Nigeria’s commitment to regional and global health security, President Bola Tinubu has given his approval for the establishment of the Regional Coordinating Centre (RCC) of the Africa Centres for Disease Control (Africa-CDC) in Nigeria.

President Tinubu, who serves as the African Union (AU) Champion for Human Resources for Health and Community Health Delivery Partnership, has selected Abuja as the host city for the Centre.

Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity in a press statement, emphasized the importance of this initiative in advancing the overall well-being and stability of Africa.

This strategic decision according to him, aims to strengthen Nigeria’s and West Africa’s collective capacity to respond swiftly to disease outbreaks, while also creating local economic opportunities within the healthcare sector.

He said the establishment of the RCC is expected to bring about significant socio-economic benefits, including the enhancement of national productivity and the reversal of the brain drain of talented professionals.

Ajuri stated that the Centre will empower local medical practitioners and scientists, equipping them with the necessary tools to effectively tackle both existing and emerging diseases not only within Nigeria but across the entire African continent.

By Chukwuemeka Paschal