A Wake-Up Call for Africa's Health: Time to Take Control
In the face of mounting health challenges, from infectious diseases to climate crises, the World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a stark warning to African governments: it's time to step up and invest in your own health systems. With external aid on the decline, the era of heavy reliance is coming to an end.
The call to action was made in Dar es Salaam, where WHO's Regional Office for Africa (WHO-AFRO) and the East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). WHO Africa Regional Director, Prof. Mohamed Janabi, delivered a powerful message, urging African nations to "recalibrate and build stronger health budgets" to tackle current and future crises.
But here's where it gets controversial... Prof. Janabi highlighted the decline in funding support to WHO, with a 70% drop following the withdrawal of major donors like the United States. He emphasized the need for countries to take charge and allocate more of their national budgets to health, ensuring an effective response to challenges.
Prof. Janabi's first five months in office, starting July 2025, were among the most challenging in WHO Africa's history. The organization faced a $1.5 billion deficit, leading to sweeping reforms, including a reduction in workforce. "I had to oversee the separation of at least 25% of our staff, including highly skilled professionals with advanced degrees. It was a difficult decision, but necessary," he explained.
And this is the part most people miss... Even as WHO navigated internal struggles, Africa faced external pressures. Within weeks of Prof. Janabi's appointment, Ebola resurfaced in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and cholera outbreaks affected at least 15 African countries. Climate-related disasters, from floods to earthquakes, further strained health systems and displaced thousands.
"We were fighting on multiple fronts," Prof. Janabi said. "It was a constant battle, and we had to adapt quickly."
The call for increased health spending is a direct response to the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. Africa's vulnerabilities were exposed, and the unpredictability of donor support became evident. Many countries lacked the necessary intensive care capacity, surveillance systems, and supply chains for essential medicines and vaccines.
"We learned the hard way that Africa's dependence on imports left us vulnerable when global supply chains collapsed," Prof. Janabi stated.
Climate change is further exacerbating these risks. Rising temperatures and extreme weather events are fueling outbreaks of diarrheal diseases, vector-borne illnesses, and malnutrition, putting additional strain on already limited resources.
To address these challenges, WHO is advocating for local pharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturing. The new MoU between WHO-AFRO and ECSA-HC aims to support member states in developing domestic industries. Tanzania, for example, is positioning itself for this shift by expanding pharmaceutical manufacturing through public-private partnerships and regulatory reforms.
"We want to streamline regulations so that medicines registered in one country can be easily accessed in another. We encourage countries to collaborate with investors and financial institutions to establish local industries," Prof. Janabi explained.
The WHO-ECSA-HC partnership comes at a critical juncture, aligning with WHO's Fourteenth General Programme of Work (2025-2028). The focus is on primary healthcare, disease prevention, health workforce development, digital health transformation, and emergency preparedness.
"This MoU is about more than cooperation; it's about ensuring better health outcomes for Africans, especially the most vulnerable," Prof. Janabi emphasized.
ECSA-HC Director-General, Dr. Ntuli Kapologwe, echoed this sentiment, noting that the partnership will help countries build resilient and equitable health systems through coordinated regional efforts.
So, what do you think? Is Africa ready to take control of its health destiny? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
