The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has urged African leaders to adopt innovative financing strategies and boost domestic investment in public health. The organization cautioned that without immediate action, recent health advancements could be undone, potentially driving morbidity and mortality rates back to early 2000s levels.
In a statement released Friday, Africa CDC emphasized the unprecedented challenges the continent is facing. “Africa is grappling with a confluence of crises that could reverse decades of progress in health security,” it said. The number of health emergencies in Africa spiked from 153 outbreaks in 2022-2023 to 242 in 2024, heightening the risk of a new pandemic emerging from the continent. At the same time, many wealthy nations are scaling back development aid, with some, including the U.S., pausing foreign assistance to prioritize domestic concerns.
The statement highlighted the dire consequences: “Without urgent intervention, these financial constraints could erase health gains, leading to an estimated two to four million additional deaths per year from preventable diseases. This would result in significant economic losses, costing Africa billions and pushing 39 million more people into poverty. This is not just an African crisis—it is a global one.”
Africa CDC responded swiftly after the U.S. announced its funding pause, with Director-General Dr. Jean Kaseya advocating for a waiver on life-saving humanitarian aid. This effort succeeded, allowing critical interventions to continue, but the statement stressed that this is just one battle. “This moment must serve as a wake-up call for African leaders to adopt innovative financing mechanisms and significantly invest in public health.”
The Africa CDC also addressed the ongoing challenge of insecurity in conflict zones, noting that peace remains a critical missing element. One stark example is Goma, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The city, with a population of three million—one million of whom are displaced—suffers from severe overcrowding, lack of basic services, and inadequate health infrastructure.
These harsh conditions, combined with insecurity, have contributed to the spread of diseases, including a mutated Mpox virus, which has already killed thousands and is highly transmissible. “Goma became the epicenter of the outbreak, affecting 21 countries across Africa, including those in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and East African Community (EAC),” the CDC stated.
While the Africa CDC has worked tirelessly to secure vaccines and medical supplies for Goma and the surrounding areas, access remains blocked by ongoing conflict. “I am ready to fly there myself to ensure these life-saving interventions reach those in need—but we must have safe access,” said Dr. Kaseya.
He appealed to African leaders, saying, “End this unnecessary war. If you fail to act, it will not be bullets that kill us—it will be pandemics and disease outbreaks. These will devastate economies and businesses across the globe. Our survival depends on urgent, decisive action. Let us choose peace. Let us choose life.”
