To achieve health security in African countries, we must build resilience and collaboration in health systems and prioritise pandemic preparedness, prevention, and response, write Jean Kaseya and Shingai Machingaidze
The resilience of African countries to disease outbreaks such as Ebola, cholera, malaria, and, recently, the covid-19 pandemic have shown the world what the continent is capable of in the face of health emergencies. But these experiences have underscored the vital need for an approach to pandemic preparedness that is continuous and multisectoral by establishing mechanisms for response and resource mobilisation and allocation.
To achieve health security, Africa must prioritise pandemic preparedness, prevention, and response. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention's new Public Health Order1 provides a framework to strengthen public health systems and health security across the continent. Health security is especially important because the African continent accounts for a significant proportion of the global burden of disease.2 It bears the highest malaria burden in the world, with approximately 95% of malaria cases and 96% of malaria deaths.3 Moreover, outbreaks of infectious diseases such as Ebola, cholera, chikungunya, Lassa fever, and mpox have had severe …