? WHO Photo
Across health clinics in the WHO African Region, challenges are growing more persistent—and more urgent. Doctors stretch limited resources to meet rising caseloads.
Mothers walk long distances in search of care. Public health teams juggle competing priorities with minimal tools. This is the daily reality of over 1.4 billion Africans navigating the sharp edge of global funding fatigue.
Governments across the continent are making commendable efforts to scale up health spending. Yet budgets remain only a fraction of what’s needed to provide even basic services—let alone build resilient systems. Donor commitments have plateaued, humanitarian needs are escalating, and the financial cushion that once sustained public health progress is rapidly thinning.
Africa is home to more than one-sixth of the world’s population yet carries nearly a quarter of the global disease burden. This is not just a disparity—it is a warning. But it is not the full story.
Africa Is Rising: A Story of Ingenuity and Self-Determination
At the WHO Regional Office for Africa, we are reimagining the path forward focusing on foundational priorities, anticipating future threats, investing in homegrown talent, and above all, supporting countries in shaping their own health destinies.
Response to health emergencies in the region, for example, has been significantly enhanced. It now takes just 72 hours to deliver critical supplies to outbreak-affected countries down from three weeks in pre-pandemic time. Outbreak detection has also improved, with the average time reduced from 14 days in 2017 to just 3 days in 2024. Additionally, the time required to bring outbreaks under control has decreased by 27%, from 142 days in 2022 to 103 days in 2024.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, African countries demonstrated significant untapped capacity to produce health products and adopt local innovations. Many leveraged existing GeneXpert machines to expand affordable and rapid testing. To support infection prevention, some began local production of reusable cloth masks, later scaling up manufacturing of surgical masks and hand sanitizers at lower costs. Countries like Rwanda led with homegrown technologies, including patient-monitoring machines and ventilator production.
Similarly, Rwanda, The Gambia, Mauritania, Zimbabwe and Liberia are pushing the frontier in the fight against malaria. Through community-led interventions, affordable access to health care, mass distribution of insecticide-treated nets, and data–driven targeting of innovative interventions, these countries have made measurable gains in reducing malaria incidence—proving that targeted investment can yield results, even in resource-constrained environments. Cabo Verde’s malaria-free certification in 2024 further demonstrated that success is possible. These are not isolated wins. They are indicators of a new era of regional solidarity and African problem-solving.
In 2025, several countries in the WHO African Region reached major milestones in disease elimination. Guinea successfully eliminated Human African Trypanosomiasis, while Niger put an end to Onchocerciasis. Mauritania, Burundi, and Senegal all achieved the elimination of Trachoma. These achievements underscore a powerful truth: elimination is within reach when countries lead with commitment, take ownership, and sustain the fight.
But a lot remains to be done, and we are determined to continue tackling the challenges.
Universal Health Coverage: Building the Foundation
Health should never be a luxury. Yet over 400 million people in Africa still lack access to essential services. That figure isn’t just a number—it represents mothers, children, and elders left behind. Universal health coverage begins with accessible, trusted primary care.
By investing in community health workers, digital tools, maternal services and affordable care options, we can build systems that serve more people—more equitably. This goes beyond infrastructure. It’s about investing in people: training frontline workers, revitalizing health facilities, and scaling up immunization and maternal care. These investments secure futures while addressing today’s needs.
Resilience: Preparing for Tomorrow’s Crises
The COVID-19 pandemic was a seismic wake-up call. But Africa has long faced recurring crises—climate-linked diseases, zoonotic outbreaks, fragile infrastructure, and protracted conflicts. Our systems must be designed to adapt.
Resilience requires forward-thinking: integrating climate adaptation into public health planning, strengthening antimicrobial resistance strategies, and embedding emergency readiness across institutions. WHO is supporting countries to adopt a One Health approach, bolster disease surveillance, and build stronger regional preparedness hubs.
Resilience isn’t reactive. It’s proactive. It is a mindset that must be embedded in every health system—from hospitals to data flows.
Efficiency and Modernization: Maximizing Every Dollar
In times of financial constraint, value matters more than ever. That means doing more with less—without compromising care.
We are helping countries modernize supply chains, digitize operations, and align spending with impact. Peer learning among Member States is accelerating the spread of best practices—from Kenya’s e-health platforms to Nigeria’s vaccine logistics tracking tools.
Efficiency is not about austerity. It is about intentional impact, accountability, and smarter decisions that stretch every resource further.
Health Sovereignty: From Dependency to Leadership
Africa’s health future must be shaped by African leadership. That means financial autonomy, regional manufacturing capacity, and the ability to set and drive our own priorities.
COVID-19 exposed the fragility of global supply chains—and the consequences of overdependence. In response, countries like Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa are investing in local vaccine production and regulatory strengthening.
WHO is supporting efforts to reform funding models, scale up regional procurement platforms, and strengthen the African Medicines Agency. Health sovereignty isn’t just about pride. It’s about power—to protect, prepare, and lead.
A Call to Partners: Align, Don’t Abandon
We recognize that the global funding landscape is shifting. But this is not the time to retreat. It is the time to recommit—to smarter partnerships, sustainable investment, and shared accountability.
Africa is not waiting for rescue. We are building solutions. But solidarity still matters.
We call on global partners to support what works: invest in locally led initiatives, fund systems that endure, and stay focused on long-term health outcomes. Health is not a line item—it is the foundation for education, employment, and peace. Cutting health budgets doesn’t shrink costs—it shrinks futures.
At WHO Africa, we are not retreating. We are advancing—with focus, with purpose, and with innovation. But we know we cannot do it alone.
If we act boldly, collaborate sincerely, and invest wisely, Africa will not only meet this moment—it will define it.