Elisabeth Dibongue serves as Secretary General of PREZODE since April 2026, where she leads the implementation of the initiative’s global strategy to prevent zoonotic disease emergence through prevention-at-source and One Health approaches.
She is a public health leader and One Health expert with more than 14 years of experience in multisectoral coordination, health governance, pandemic prevention, and emergency management.
Prior to joining PREZODE, she served as Deputy Permanent Secretary of Cameroon’s zoonotic Diseases Control Programme/National One Health Platform under the Prime Minister’s Office, leading the development and implementation of national One Health policies, zoonotic disease prevention strategies, and multisectoral coordination mechanisms. She has also played a key role in strengthening public health emergency preparedness and response systems, including risk assessment, incident management, and capacity building across Africa.
Elisabeth holds master’s degrees in Public Health and International Relations and is an alumni of the CDC Atlanta Public Health Emergency Management Programme as well as the International Programme of Public Health Leadership of the university of Washington.
Widely recognized for her expertise in One Health governance, partnership development, health diplomacy, and strategic leadership, she has contributed to numerous international initiatives and scientific publications on zoonotic diseases, pandemic preparedness, and global health security. She is also committed to advancing women’s leadership in global health as Founder of the Women in One Health and Sustainable Development Initiative (WOHSDI) and a member of Women in Global Health.