Africa CDC Calls for Stronger Self-Reliance Amid Surge in Health Emergencies

Addis Ababa(The Uttam Hindu): The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has called on African nations to strengthen domestic financing mechanisms in light of the continent’s “unprecedented surge” in public health emergencies. This appeal comes as Africa grapples with emerging and ongoing health challenges. The call was made in two recent reports: the Africa CDC Annual Report 2024 and Africa's Health Financing in a New Era Report, both released on Thursday. These reports reflect the agency’s efforts in enhancing disease control and health security across Africa, while also highlighting the risks that threaten to undo decades of public health progress on the continent.

According to data from the African Union’s specialized health agency, Africa has experienced a sharp rise in public health emergencies over the past two years, with disease outbreaks increasing by 41 percent—from 152 outbreaks in 2022 to 213 in 2024. The agency warned that the surge in health emergencies has stretched Africa’s already fragile health systems, exposing deep vulnerabilities and undermining the continent’s ability to respond effectively and promptly to crises. The Africa CDC also pointed to a significant financing gap, with a 70 percent drop in official development assistance between 2021 and 2025. Additionally, the continent remains heavily reliant on external sources for over 90 percent of its vaccines, medicines, and diagnostics, making it highly susceptible to global supply chain disruptions.

The Africa CDC cautioned that, without decisive action, Africa could face a reversal of two decades of health progress, leading to an additional two to four million preventable deaths annually. Furthermore, 39 million more Africans could be driven into poverty by 2030 due to the intertwined effects of health and economic shocks. In its annual report, the Africa CDC outlined key achievements across six strategic priority areas: strengthening integrated health systems, promoting local manufacturing of health products, enhancing early warning and surveillance systems, bolstering national public health institutes, improving laboratory systems and networks, and ensuring robust emergency preparedness and response. The report also emphasized the Africa CDC’s crucial role in supporting national responses to several major health crises in 2024, including the mpox outbreak, which affected over 20 African countries, the Marburg virus disease in Rwanda, and cholera outbreaks in 15 countries.