A new cohort of African journalists is being deployed to the frontline of the continent’s public health battle, as the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) intensifies efforts to strengthen health security through media.
Under the African Union Media Fellowship (AUMF) Cohort 3.0, Africa CDC is leading a dedicated Public Health Track, selecting five fellows tasked with transforming how complex health systems, surveillance data and outbreak responses are reported across the continent.
The initiative comes at a critical juncture. Africa’s health systems, tested by COVID-19, recurring disease outbreaks and chronic underinvestment, are undergoing structural reform, with institutions increasingly recognising that accurate, data-driven journalism is central to public health outcomes.
Africa CDC said the programme will provide fellows with direct exposure to its operations, including health surveillance systems and emergency response mechanisms, enabling them to translate technical processes into accessible, community-focused reporting.
The aim is not simply to improve coverage, but to reframe the narrative from reactive crisis reporting to informed, system-level storytelling that influences policy, behaviour and accountability.
Meet the journalists redefining public health reporting
The five selected fellows drawn from across the continent, bring experience in reporting health, governance and development, but will now be embedded deeper into the mechanics of public health systems.
From Liberia, Tina S. Mehnpain framed the fellowship as an opportunity to shift perspective beyond traditional reporting:
“Africa is not alone in the public health crisis, and reporting on how poor health systems are failing people is more than just finding and highlighting the gains made over the years to mitigate the health crisis. The skills, knowledge, and experience gain from this fellowship will enhance my ability to report from multidimensional perspectives, not just as a journalist but as an African.”
Tanzania’s Salome Gregory pointed to the programme’s pan-African scope and its alignment with long-term continental development goals:
“With the exposure to the AU and Africa CDC, my mind thinks about Agenda 2063 in each article I do. I can expand each story to touch key aspects of ‘the Africa we want’. Our time in Addis allowed me to establish cross-border work relationships with others; and I now think beyond my country and how my work could benefit all Africans.”
Kenya’s Lourdes Walusala highlighted the operational depth of the experience, particularly exposure to crisis response systems:
“I had first interacted with Africa CDC indirectly during COVID. Visiting the main office was inspiring and encouraging. My top moment was touring the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to see in real time how emergencies are handled. I am impressed by Africa CDC’s work, not just in handling emergencies but also in building stronger health systems for the, long-term.”
For Ethiopia’s Ayele Ambelu, the fellowship represents a turning point in professional capability:
“Being part of the first cohort under the public health track is a transformative opportunity for my journalism career. It strengthens my ability to report accurately on complex health issues, interpret data, and engage with experts. The fellowship enhances my storytelling skills, deepens my understanding of public health systems, and positions me to produce impactful, evidence-based reporting that informs and empowers communities across Africa.”
Egypt’s Jacklene Habib underscored the long-term impact on reporting practice:
“For the last several years, I’ve reported on public health issues across Africa. The knowledge, skills and experience I will gain from this fellowship will contribute to my approach as a reporter and the stories I tell about health issues in the continent.”
The fellowship reflects a growing recognition that information is infrastructure. In regions where misinformation can spread faster than official guidance, the role of trained, credible journalists is increasingly seen as essential to managing outbreaks and strengthening public trust.
Africa CDC’s approach aligns with broader continental strategies, including the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which positions knowledge systems, communication and institutional capacity as core drivers of development.
A continent-wide impact
Africa’s population projected to exceed 2.5 billion by 2050, faces a dual challenge of expanding access to healthcare while managing emerging and re-emerging diseases. In this context, the ability to communicate risks, explain policy and interpret scientific data is no longer peripheral, it is central.
By investing in journalists as intermediaries between institutions and the public, Africa CDC is effectively embedding communication capacity within the health ecosystem itself.
The AUMF Public Health Track signals a broader evolution in development strategy that recognises storytelling not as an accessory to policy, but as a lever for change.
For the five fellows, the mandate is to convert complexity into clarity, data into understanding, and systems into stories that drive action.
In doing so, they are not just reporting on Africa’s public health challenges they are helping to shape how the continent responds to them.
