Senior Technical Adviser at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI), Dr. Ebere Okereke, has warned that the newly launched “America First Global Health Strategy” risks weakening Africa’s health sovereignty.
In a statement on her LinkedIn page Wednesday, Okereke said the strategy prioritises U.S. national interests over global health goals, framing aid as a tool to make America “safer, stronger and more prosperous.”
She noted that while the strategy pledges continued support for HIV, malaria, tuberculosis and pandemic preparedness, it singles out Africa as a priority region due to outbreak risks, population growth and strategic minerals.
According to her, the framing blames African countries for inefficiency and dependency, without acknowledging donor-driven structures that fostered those weaknesses. She argued that U.S.-controlled funding channels, procurement systems, and vertical programmes entrenched the dependency now being criticised.
Okereke further cautioned that proposed bilateral agreements tied to strict benchmarks, co-financing, and U.S.-driven surveillance could undermine African-led institutions such as the African Medicines Agency and the Partnership for African Vaccine Manufacturing.
“This strategy risks eroding Africa’s health sovereignty by embedding U.S. staff in ministries, controlling access to surveillance data, and privileging American commodities over local production,” she warned, adding that aid is being reframed as a tool in U.S.–China rivalry.
She urged African leaders to respond strategically through the AU and Africa CDC, increase domestic health financing, and protect local manufacturing.
