In 1981, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) established the International Health Program Office, now known as the Global Health Center (GCH).

The GHC allows the CDC to detect and control outbreaks at their source, saving lives and reducing healthcare costs. CDC helps other countries build capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to their health threats through our work. The knowledge and lessons learned from CDC’s work abroad are critical to our public health efforts.

The GCH coordinates and manages the agency’s resources and expertise to address global challenges such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, emergency and refugee health, non-communicable diseases, injuries, and more.