The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has warned that funding shortfalls, insecurity, and multiple disease outbreaks are straining health response efforts across the continent.
Director-general of Africa CDC, Dr. Jean Kaseya raised these concerns on Thursday during the Mpox weekly briefing, emphasising the urgent need for domestic health financing to address Africa’s growing health challenges.
Science Nigeria reports that the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared Mpox a global public health emergency in August 2024, marking the second such declaration in two years. The outbreak, originating from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), has spread to neighboring countries, worsening the continent’s health crisis.
Kaseya highlighted the devastating impact of the ongoing conflict in Goma, DRC, which has escalated alongside suspected Ebola cases, Mpox outbreaks and cholera infections.
“This week started with an open war in Goma. We also recorded suspected Ebola cases in the DRC while Mpox and cholera outbreaks persist.
“It’s one of the weeks we don’t like at Africa CDC because, in addition to the health crises, we are dealing with a humanitarian emergency.
“But this is why Africa CDC exists – to support our member states and populations in the face of such challenges,” he stated.
He noted that the ongoing instability in the DRC has severely disrupted disease surveillance and response efforts, making it difficult to track and contain outbreaks.
“The destruction of key laboratories and disruptions to health infrastructure in Goma have made monitoring and response significantly more difficult.
“When we talk about disease surveillance, we talk about human resources – health workers, communities and frontline responders.
“But if they cannot operate due to security threats, how can we ensure effective disease tracking and containment?” he asked.
Kaseya disclosed that while the U.S. pledged $1.1 billion for health support, only 60 per cent of the committed Mpox funding has been received, leaving a 40 per cent gap.
Although Africa CDC welcomed the exemption granted for continued financial support, he emphasized the urgent need for Africa to reduce its dependence on foreign aid.
“We are entering a new era where we will see a definite decrease in foreign assistance to Africa.
“This means we, as Africans, must take ownership of our health systems – strengthening local manufacturing, improving disease surveillance and digitising healthcare systems to become self-sufficient,” he said.
To address the growing funding crisis, Kaseya revealed that Africa CDC is convening a high-level meeting on February 14 in Addis Ababa, called by President Paul Kagame.
At this summit, African heads of state will discuss strategies to mobilize domestic resources for healthcare financing.
The meeting aims to develop sustainable funding mechanisms, reduce reliance on foreign aid, and strengthen health infrastructure across the continent.
“This is the change we are bringing to Africa – better communication, more transparency, and a stronger push for domestic resource mobilisation,” Kaseya said.
The Africa CDC director-general acknowledged the logistical challenges in delivering vaccines to Goma and other affected areas, as well as uncertainties regarding mortality and morbidity projections from the Ebola outbreak in DRC and Uganda.
“We do not yet have all the answers regarding vaccine distribution, death rates, or the full extent of the Ebola outbreak, but we are committed to providing timely updates and ensuring transparency in our response,” he assured.
Despite significant obstacles, he reiterated Africa CDC’s commitment to strengthening health systems, improving surveillance, and securing sustainable funding to combat current and future health threats.
The February 14 Addis Ababa meeting is expected to set the stage for a new era of African-led health financing and policy reforms, ensuring that the continent takes charge of its healthcare future.
