The ONE Campaign has today congratulated the Director of the African Union’s Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Africa CDC, Dr John Nkengasong, who has been awarded the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation 2020 Global Goalkeeper Award.

The award celebrates an established individual (or group) who has demonstrated commitment to the global development goals through impactful work during or in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in their country and/or globally.

The ONE Campaign, whose mission to eliminate poverty and preventable diseases, is forging partnerships with governments and communities across the globe to fight the corona pandemic.

In the congratulatory message, the ONE Campaign paid particular tribute to Dr Nkengasong’s leadership role at Africa CDC to strengthen Africa’s response and preparedness in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.

One Campaign hailed Dr Nkengasong’s specific focus to scale up testing, surveillance and healthcare preparedness, as well as health communications and data management at the Africa CDC.

“The COVID 19 pandemic presents the most serious health and economic crisis ever faced by the Africa continent,” said ONE campaign’s Africa Director, Edwin Ihkhuoria.

“The relationship between Africa CDC and the ONE Campaign is special as the missions of the organizations are mutually reinforcing. I look forward to working with him and further advancing the collaboration between our institutions.

Noting that the missions of Africa CDC and ONE Campaign are mutually reinforcing, Ms Dorine Nininahazwe, the African Union and East Africa Director at ONE said the two organizations were working towards a common pandemic response plan for Africa.

“ONE Campaign will continue to work with Africa CDC to protect the vulnerable, support essential workers, and make a vaccine available to everyone. We will also continue to support people worst hit economically, and to strengthen health systems of African countries”.

About ONE

ONE is a global movement campaigning to end extreme poverty and preventable disease by 2030, so that everyone, everywhere can lead a life of dignity and opportunity.

We believe the fight against poverty isn’t about charity, but about justice and equality.

Whether lobbying political leaders in world capitals or running cutting-edge grassroots campaigns, ONE pressures governments to do more to fight extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa, and empowers citizens to hold their governments to account.