Dr Merawi Aragaw is a Medical Epidemiologist with more than 10 years of experience in health systems and public health programmes, disease surveillance, investigation and management of disasters and outbreaks, and evaluation of surveillance system. He currently serves as Head of Surveillance and Disease at Africa CDC, where he oversees coordination and capacity building of African Union Member States for emergency preparedness and response, and the preparation for medical and non-medical countermeasures. 

Dr Aragaw is a medical doctor by training and holds a master’s degree in public health specializing in field epidemiology. He has taken several short courses, including infectious disease modelling, disaster risk management and leadership; and has expert skills in surveillance and disease intelligence, public health emergency management, Emergency Operation Center (EOC), and incident management systems.