The Commonwealth Disease Commission is a constituent organisation of the Parliament of Health.
| Commonwealth Disease Commission | |
|---|---|
| Statutory authority of the Parliament of Health | |
| Employees | 7,955 |
| Headquarters | Commonwealth Disease Commission, Praia |
| Service | Commonwealth Medical Service |
The Commonwealth Disease Commission (CDC) is the national public health agency of the Commonwealth. It aims to protect public health through prevention of disease, injury and disability. To this end, it gathers and centralises Commonwealth disease intelligence and is responsible for managing contagion and outbreaks. It was known until recently as the Commonwealth Disease Authority, and is headquartered in Praia.
The CDC conducts extensive field work through its Epidemic Intelligence Service and World Health Research Organisation. It also has special powers allowing it to implement short-term quarantines and mobilise the public health system. It also promotes healthy living and disease prevention to the public through programmes in the home, school and workplace.
The Commonwealth is a major Atlantic entrepôt, and has thousands of vessels and aircraft transiting its territories daily. The commission is one of the three authorities of the Atlantic Viral Surveillance System, with the Defence Viral Laboratories of the DSRE and the MSRE, and employs the port health officers who meet ships and aircraft on arrival.
General Headquarters
2,045Direction of the commission; statistics, laboratories, health education, parliamentary business, press and staff.
Department of Toxic Substances
430Poisons and toxic substances.
Department of Novel Diseases
460New and unidentified diseases.
Department of Artificial Diseases
90Engineered diseases and biological weapons.
Department of Quarantine
2,170Quarantine powers and port health.
Department of Transmissible Diseases
1,820Notifiable diseases and outbreaks.