Dr. Jean Cassia, Director General of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was filmed at the NPR headquarters during a visit to Washington, DC, in March. In the aftermath of the Trump administration’s foreign aid, the colleagues tell: “It seems as if you were a child. You have a wealthy father. One day, you wake up and say,” Oh, your father has suffered an accident. He died. Then you should survive.
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When the WhatsApp message appeared, Dr. Jean Cassia looked at it and rejected it. It was in late January and the message was about President Trump’s plan Freezing almost all external aid Waiting for the review.
“It was a joke,” Casa Remember to think of himself. He is the general manager of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Congolese doctor, with a specialization in epidemics and community health, has served in this role since early 2023.
Soon after, it became clear to Cassia and the rest of the world that Trump’s freezing on assistance was not a joke – and after weeks, the freezing in A. Permanent termination Help in the largest part of the United States Agency for International Development.
The repercussions of Africa are huge. In 2024, sub -Saharan Africa received more than $ 12.7 billion from foreign direct aid from the United States, this number is greater when considering the global health programs that funds the United States Where African countries are a major beneficiary.
Kaseya now helps to direct the continent through this unexpected and unexpected scene.
He visited NPR in March – and he was disappointed that he had to leave before a small concert. In a 30-minute conversation, he talked about his strategy to move forward, and his relevant fears-and how everything affects his sleep and his personal relationships.
Below is the most prominent transfer, which was edited for clarity and length.
How do you explain aid discounts for those who are more affected?
“[African] Leaders call me. They ask, “What can we do?”
What I should say to them: “It seems as if you were a child. You had a rich father. One day, you wake up and say, “Oh, your father has suffered an accident. He passed.” Then you have to stay alive.
It is not only about the United States [to cut aid] This has begun in the United States followed by other rich countries in the world, European countries.
“So I think it is an invitation to wake up. What do we do today in Africa is to say,” How can we take this as an opportunity? “Yes, we are suffering – but it is also an opportunity for us to rethink how African countries take the initiative. Therefore,, [Nigerian government] Presented An additional billion dollars To the health budget. We do not say, “We cover the gap.” But we can say, “We reduce the effect of reducing aid.”
What is your message to African countries?
From 2021 to 2025, we move from 81 billion dollars [annual] To nearly $ 25 billion in foreign health assistance in Africa. It is a significant decrease – 70 % decrease. And when you have this type of significant decline, you cannot wake up one day and say, “I am [can] Cover that [cost]’You need to work. You need to start re -planning everything you do. You need to give priority to the place of people’s lives.
“There are some African countries that contribute more. But for a number of countries, they depend entirely on external support. So, when you stop helping today, there is no mechanism to restore them.
“But we made it clear to our leaders that external assistance will not continue to be as it was in the past. So, while we say thank you [to donor countries for what has been contributed]We also say to [African] Governments, “This is your responsibility for caring for your people.”
“I say to all African countries:” Before communicating with the partners, showed the amount you contribute to your response. “A country like the Democratic Republic of the Congo – was the first time that it reached 40 million dollars [needed] To fight MPOX, they said: “We will put $ 10 million.” This was the first time to see this type of contribution. “
Dr. Jean Cassia, General Manager of Africa CDC, says the job changed his life. He says he and his colleagues are “reserved” but they add “we learn it every day. I was more careful to respond [before]Today, I take my time. ”
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What is your message to America?
“Africa will be 2.5 billion people in 2050. It will be [continent with the] The largest population in the world. The United States needs this market. There are more middle -class people because more Africans We are [becoming] The learner earns money.
“My message to my colleagues and friends in the United States: We are open. If they are looking for friends, Africa exists.
In the health area, one of the main lessons we learned from Covid is no one protected, if not your neighbor [protected]. The rural -based approach will not solve the problem. Fascism that will start somewhere, will be quickly in other countries. “
When you think about healthy threats, what is on the horizon, what is going on in your mind?
“In Africa, from 2022 to 2024, we saw an increase of 40 % in terms of [infectious disease] spread. We moved from 152 to more than 242 outbreaks in just two years. This is huge.
“We have an environment where, first, there is an increase in the outbreak of the disease.
“The danger is huge. How do you want us to respond to all these outbreaks if you do not have vaccines, if you do not have medications, if you do not have diagnoses, if you do not have human resources, if you do not have flexible health systems?”
How does it seem to be president of AFRICA CDC?
“When I was applying for this position, I didn’t know that my life would change like this. You don’t have your personal life. I have to sleep three or four hours per night.
“Every day you have something coming. Just to give an example, in January, we had 82 outbreaks [in Africa]. What does that mean? This means that you have nearly two or three new outbreaks a day, and you should be able to respond to this. My colleagues are just reserved, because every day we need to run everywhere.
“But it is also a ripe school. We learn every day. I was more keen to respond [before]. Today, I take my time. “