The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has unveiled a renewed Health Security and Sovereignty Agenda aimed at strengthening the continent’s ability to prevent and respond to pandemics while reducing dependence on external funding, supply chains, and healthcare systems.
The agenda builds on the New Public Health Order adopted by African leaders in 2022, but comes at a time when Africa is facing increasing disease outbreaks and declining international health support. The strategy focuses on five key pillars, including pandemic preparedness, sustainable financing, digital health systems, and local manufacturing of medical products.
Executive Director of the Democracy Development Program, Dr Paul Kariuki, said health security has become a major geopolitical issue with far-reaching implications for the continent.
“Health has become one of the geopolitical discussions attracting significant attention from the global community, especially with Africa involved here,” Kariuki said.
He explained that strengthening Africa’s health systems is not only important for managing pandemics but also for ensuring political stability, economic resilience, and the protection of citizens across the continent.
“It’s not a topic we can assume, because it has many implications on different levels of our continental development,” he added.
Kariuki also stressed the need for African leaders to prioritise increased investment in health systems and to use the conversation around health sovereignty to push for stronger regional collaboration and long-term financing solutions.
Listen to full interview below:
VOC News
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