Fiocruz joins Africa CDC Emergency Advisory Group

The president of Fiocruz, Mario Moreira, joined the Emergency Advisory Group (ECG) set up by the African Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) last Monday (8/12). The group of experts acts as the main advisory body to the Director-General of Africa CDC, a position currently held by Jean Kaseya, providing strategic, evidence-based guidance on critical public health issues.

“This invitation was made because of our moves to bring Fiocruz closer to governments and public health organizations in Africa, to strengthen cooperation ties for our health systems to be better prepared for health emergencies and to build the capacity of countries in the Global South to produce health products locally,” explained Moreira. "The opening of the Fiocruz Office in Ethiopia, in Addis Ababa, is a concrete manifestation of this partnership with the African continent," he added.

The ECG is made up of 20 members from different professional affiliations and areas of expertise, representing each of the five geographical regions of the African Union.  In addition to representatives from the region, the group has the support of international experts, including Mario Moreira.

Mario Moreira's involvement will take the form of virtual meetings convened by the Director-General of Africa CDC and at least one face-to-face meeting a year. On Monday, the president of the Foundation took part in a virtual meeting that resulted in a public health emergency of continental security being declared in the face of the rapid spread of Mpox.

Fiocruz has been actively involved in global efforts to deal with emergencies. On June 21st this year, president Mario Moreira also joined the Steering Committee of the 100-Day Mission, within the framework of the International Pandemic Preparedness Secretariat (IPPS).