Addis Ababa — The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has inaugurated its first-ever medical supply warehouse, marking a major step in strengthening Africa’s capacity to respond swiftly to public health emergencies.

The newly established 1,000-square-metre temporary facility, located at Africa CDC’s headquarters in Addis Ababa, is designed to support the procurement, storage, and distribution of critical medical supplies across the continent. The warehouse is equipped with cold chain systems, enabling the safe handling of temperature-sensitive medicines, vaccines, and diagnostics.

The project was funded by the Mastercard Foundation and implemented with technical and logistical support from the World Food Programme (WFP). WFP officials described the initiative as a strong example of effective partnership in advancing Africa’s health security infrastructure.

Speaking at the inauguration, Africa CDC Deputy Director General Dr. Raji Tajudeen said the warehouse will significantly enhance the speed, coordination, and efficiency of responses to disease outbreaks and health emergencies. He noted that the facility is a critical building block in Africa CDC’s broader efforts to strengthen regional preparedness and reduce reliance on ad-hoc emergency supply chains.

The warehouse is expected to play a key role in supporting member states during outbreaks by ensuring timely access to essential medical supplies, reinforcing Africa’s push toward greater health resilience and self-reliance.