Africa needs more money from inside the continent to fix health problems. The Africa Centers for Disease Control shared two new reports yesterday about money troubles. These reports tell us how disease control works across Africa but warn about big problems that might undo years of health progress. The last two years saw many more disease outbreaks than before - jumping up by 41 percent. Africa had 152 outbreaks in 2022, but that number grew to 213 by 2024.
Health systems feel huge pressure from these outbreaks. They show deep problems in how Africa responds to sickness. Money for health keeps going down with outside help dropping by 70 percent from 2021 to 2025. Making things worse, Africa buys over 90 percent of its vaccines, medicines, and testing kits from other places. This leaves countries in danger when world shipping has problems. The Africa CDC warns that without fast action, the continent might lose twenty years of health progress.
Africa might see two to four million more deaths each year that could be stopped. By 2030, health and money problems might push 39 million more Africans into poverty. The Africa CDC works in six main areas to help fix these issues. They make health systems work better together and push for the production of health products inside Africa. They also help catch disease signs early and watch how sickness spreads.
The agency builds up national public health groups and improves labs across countries. It also prepares for health dangers and helps when they happen. In 2024, the Africa CDC helped fight several major health crises. It worked against pox in more than 20 African countries and fought Marburg virus disease in Rwanda. It also helped 15 countries deal with cholera outbreaks.
The reports show both what Africa has done right and where it needs fast help. Local money must step up as outside help goes down. Africa must make more of its medicines at home instead of buying almost everything from far away. Better warning systems can catch new sicknesses before they spread everywhere. Training more doctors and nurses who stay in Africa remains key to better health care for all people across the continent.
Health systems feel huge pressure from these outbreaks. They show deep problems in how Africa responds to sickness. Money for health keeps going down with outside help dropping by 70 percent from 2021 to 2025. Making things worse, Africa buys over 90 percent of its vaccines, medicines, and testing kits from other places. This leaves countries in danger when world shipping has problems. The Africa CDC warns that without fast action, the continent might lose twenty years of health progress.
Africa might see two to four million more deaths each year that could be stopped. By 2030, health and money problems might push 39 million more Africans into poverty. The Africa CDC works in six main areas to help fix these issues. They make health systems work better together and push for the production of health products inside Africa. They also help catch disease signs early and watch how sickness spreads.
The agency builds up national public health groups and improves labs across countries. It also prepares for health dangers and helps when they happen. In 2024, the Africa CDC helped fight several major health crises. It worked against pox in more than 20 African countries and fought Marburg virus disease in Rwanda. It also helped 15 countries deal with cholera outbreaks.
The reports show both what Africa has done right and where it needs fast help. Local money must step up as outside help goes down. Africa must make more of its medicines at home instead of buying almost everything from far away. Better warning systems can catch new sicknesses before they spread everywhere. Training more doctors and nurses who stay in Africa remains key to better health care for all people across the continent.
