The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has introduced a new digital dashboard designed to strengthen Africa’s medical supply systems and improve delivery of essential health products across the continent.
According to a press release issued by Africa CDC on November 3, 2025, the innovation is part of the agency’s expanded Joint Action Plan (2024–2027) with UNICEF, which seeks to address long-standing challenges such as fragmented logistics, weak infrastructure, and limited access to real-time data that continue to delay the movement of vaccines, medicines and other vital health commodities.
At the centre of the initiative is the Continental Supply Chain Snapshot, a data-driven tool that provides a comprehensive overview of each country’s supply chain performance.
The Snapshot highlights strengths, gaps, and opportunities for improvement across governance, planning, procurement, warehousing, digital infrastructure, and last-mile delivery.
Africa CDC Director-General, Dr Jean Kaseya, was quoted in the statement as saying, “Strong supply chains save lives. When health products move efficiently, health systems thrive.”
The agency said the Snapshot will feed into an interactive digital dashboard that tracks performance trends, identifies innovations, and supports policymakers in making timely, evidence-based decisions.
The dashboard, developed in consultation with national health and finance ministries and local partners, will cover all 55 African Union Member States.
“This effort gives policymakers and operators a clear, evidence-based view of what works and where to invest,” said Tesfaye Haile Michael, Africa CDC’s Head of Supply Chain.
“By turning fragmented information into actionable insights, we will accelerate outbreak response today while building a more resilient, self-reliant supply chain for tomorrow.”
Africa CDC noted that the dashboard is not just a crisis-response mechanism but also a long-term planning and investment tool aligned with its Strategic Plan (2024–2027), the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and global development targets such as Sustainable Development Goals 3, 9, and 17.
The press release added that the initiative leverages UNICEF’s global expertise in child health logistics and Africa CDC’s leadership in disease prevention to strengthen preparedness, response, and recovery in public health emergencies, including mpox, cholera, and malaria outbreaks.
According to Africa CDC, the ongoing mpox outbreak has exposed major weaknesses in health systems, including delays in testing and supply chain disruptions.
The agency said the new dashboard will help African countries close these gaps by improving data visibility, coordination, and efficiency in the movement of life-saving medical supplies.
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