Adis Ababa, 6 April (IANS). The Africa Disease Control and Prevention Center (Africa CDC) has called for a domestic funding system to be strengthened domestically to deal with African countries in view of “boom” in public health emergency conditions in Africa.
Africa CDC called for two latest reports – ‘Africa CDC Annual Report 2024’ and ‘A new era report in Africa’s health financing’, both have been released on Thursday.
According to the Xinhua news agency report, both reports have a list of challenges that can overturn the decades of the continent in public health.
Data from the Special Health Services Agency of the African Union suggests that in the last 24 months, the continent has seen “tremendous bounce in public health emergency situations”, which has increased by about 41 percent. While outbreak of various diseases was 152 in 2022, in 2024 it increased to 213.
It was said that the increase in disease outbreaks has “already put heavy pressure on weak health systems, highlighted weaknesses and also showed that we (Africa) are extremely weak in dealing with timely and effective ways.”
The Africa CDC stated that Africa’s health sector is facing financial crisis, which is due to a rapid fall of 70 percent in official development assistance from 2021 to 2025. It noted that the situation worsened due to the external dependence of the continent, in which more than 90 percent of vaccines, drugs and diagnosis are obtained from external sources.
Africa CDC said in its health financing report, “Africa CDC estimates that without decisive action, the continent may reverse the progress made in two decades of health sector. A total of 39 million and African poverty can be pushed by 2030 due to health and economic shocks.
In view of the continent’s commitment to solve public health challenges, Africa CDC in its annual report underlined achievements in six strategic priority areas.
These preferences include strengthening integrated health systems, promoting local manufacturing of health products, increasing early warnings and monitoring systems, strengthening national public health institutions, improving laboratory systems and networks, as well as ensuring strong emergency preparations and response for health hazards.
The report highlighted the “important role” of Africa CDCs in the major public health emergency situations in 2024, including MPox outbreak affecting more than 20 African countries and efforts made to deal with Marburg virus disease in Rwanda.
-IANS
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