The Committee of Heads of State and Government of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) met on the sidelines of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly to deliberate on the theme: “Securing Africa’s Health Sovereignty: Political Leadership for Sustainable Health Financing, Local Manufacturing, and Pandemic Preparedness.”
At the conclusion of the meeting, the following key outcomes were agreed:
Health Financing Threats:
Leaders acknowledged the risks posed by major cuts in global assistance, including an $8 billion reduction from the United States and similar actions from European partners.
They emphasized the urgent need for Africa to prioritize domestic investment in health and strengthen transparency in resource use.
Breaking Dependency:
Member States committed to working collectively to reduce external dependency and to channel resources into critical health investments.
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing: A resolution was adopted to harmonize regulatory frameworks and pool resources to establish drug manufacturing hubs, with the goal of meeting at least 60% of Africa’s pharmaceutical demand by 2040.
Opportunities for Growth:
Leaders noted Africa’s untapped potential, citing India’s pharmaceutical industry with over 10,000 manufacturers, and agreed that Africa could achieve similar scale, creating jobs and reducing costs.
Strengthening Africa CDC Capacity:
The Africa CDC announced expanded training, new operational centers, and enhanced surveillance systems for early detection of diseases.
This includes the use of digital tools in rural areas for real-time monitoring to prevent the spread of communicable diseases such as Mpox, Dengue Fever, Ebola, and Cholera.
Accra Health Summit: Leaders praised President John Dramani Mahama for hosting the Accra Health Summit, which revived momentum following the Abidjan Declaration and the Lusaka Agreement.
Ghana’s Commitment: President Mahama highlighted interventions by his government, including the uncapping of the National Health Insurance Fund, expanded health projects to improve access, and new investments under the forthcoming Big Push Initiative.
MoUs and Partnerships: The meeting witnessed the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to support local manufacturing of health products in each country for African use.
Policy Framework: A continental policy framework was adopted to drive health sovereignty, with the support of partners including GAVI (represented by Sania) and the WHO Director-General, who pledged to revisit the issue at a follow-up meeting during UNGA 80.
Leadership Call: Chairing the session, President Mahama urged stronger political will, increased commitment, and more direct engagement with investors and donors through proactive advocacy.
Story: Patrick Asford Boadu
