African Heads of State and Government have renewed their call for stronger, sustainable health financing to strengthen Africa’s health sovereignty.
The leaders, who met virtually on Tuesday during an Extraordinary Session of the Committee of Heads of State and Government (CHSG) of the Africa CDC, commended the agency’s reforms and progress in tackling health threats across the continent. The session held on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
In a communiqué, the leaders reaffirmed Africa CDC’s mandate to provide strategic direction, scale up local manufacturing, pooled procurement, and regulatory harmonisation through the African Medicines Agency (AMA). They also hailed its recent UK due diligence clearance, which unlocked direct funding, and urged other partners to adopt similar transparent mechanisms.
The CHSG tasked Africa CDC to engage former African leaders to champion its resource mobilisation and commended Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema for spearheading the continental cholera preparedness plan, as well as Ghana’s former President John Dramani Mahama for championing Africa’s Health Sovereignty Initiative.
They expressed concern over the United States’ decision to place the AU and Africa CDC on its prohibition list, urging Washington to reverse the move and instead deepen collaboration under the America First Global Health Strategy.
The leaders also backed Africa CDC’s role in replenishing Gavi, the Global Fund, and the Pandemic Fund, as well as leading Africa’s participation in the WHO Pandemic Agreement and revised International Health Regulations.
Reiterating the continent’s vulnerability to outbreaks such as cholera, Ebola, Lassa fever, and dengue, the leaders stressed the need for more domestic financing, local production of medical countermeasures, and united global health advocacy.
They concluded with a pledge to speak with one voice in international fora and to safeguard Africa’s health through innovation, solidarity, and sustainable financing.
