The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has announced the postponement of the 2024 Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA), which was initially scheduled for 26-29 November 2024 in Morocco. This decision comes after careful deliberations between Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, and Morocco’s Minister of Health, Professor Khalid Aït Taleb, during their meeting on 13 September 2024 in Rabat.
The postponement is a direct response to the ongoing Mpox outbreak, which has spread across all five regions of the continent. Following this public health crisis, Africa CDC declared a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) on 13 August 2024. The World Health Organization (WHO) further heightened the urgency by declaring the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) the next day.
Dr. Kaseya expressed deep gratitude to the Kingdom of Morocco for their understanding, support, and readiness to host CPHIA despite the current challenges. Africa CDC will now focus its resources on containing the Mpox outbreak, while reaffirming that CPHIA remains a vital platform for public health collaboration across Africa. The conference will be rescheduled for 2025, with details to be announced soon.
Africa CDC is urging African Union Member States to remain vigilant and continue implementing stringent measures to combat the spread of Mpox. The health and safety of the continent remain the top priority, with the hope that by 2025, we can reconvene for CPHIA in Rabat.
Stay tuned to Ghana Health Nest for updates on the rescheduled conference and the ongoing Mpox crisis across the continent.
