Africa CDC Opens First-Ever Medical Supply Warehouse to Boost Rapid Outbreak Response By Raymond Enoch

Africa’s top Public Health Agency , Center for Disease Control ( CDC) has taken a major step toward faster and stronger disease response with the unveiling of its first-ever medical supply warehouse at its headquarters in Addis Ababa.

The 1,000-square-metre temporary facility will serve as a central hub for procuring, storing and dispatching life-saving medical supplies across the continent. Equipped with complementary cold chain systems, the warehouse is designed to ensure vaccines, medicines and other critical materials are delivered quickly and safely during health emergencies.

The project was funded by the Mastercard Foundation and supported by the World Food Programme (WFP), highlighting the growing impact of strategic partnerships in strengthening Africa’s health security.

Speaking at the unveiling, WFP’s African Union Global Office Director., Lydie Kouame, described the warehouse as “a powerful example of what strong partnerships can deliver.”

Africa CDC Deputy Director General, Dr Raji Tajudeen, said the new facility marks a turning point for the agency’s emergency response capacity. “With this warehouse in place, we now have what it takes to respond in the most efficient and timely manner to disease outbreaks,” he said.

The warehouse is expected to significantly reduce response times during outbreaks, improve coordination with member states, and reinforce Africa CDC’s role as the continent’s frontline defender against public health threats.

For a region often challenged by delays in medical supply delivery, the new facility signals a more prepared, resilient and self-reliant Africa.