0
0
Lusaka – Across Africa, fragile health systems are often the first to falter when a crisis strikes, with profound impacts on lives, livelihoods, and health, and often causing long-term socioeconomic disruption.
Renewing efforts to protect communities from the growing threat of health emergencies, health ministers meeting for the 75th session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa in Lusaka, Zambia, agreed to take urgent action to strengthen national capacities to anticipate, respond to, and recover from threats to public health.
The development of a strong and equitably distributed health workforce was at the heart of the discussions. Countries committed to increasing recruitment, ensuring equitable deployment between urban and rural areas, and investing in continuing education to prepare health professionals for routine care and emergency response. Educational institutions will be more involved in aligning training programs with national strategies and evolving health security needs.
In 2025, WHO and its partners responded to more than 21 public health emergencies on the continent, ranging from outbreaks of smallpox, cholera, measles, and dengue fever to humanitarian crises caused by conflict and displacement. Each response required the rapid mobilization of experts, supplies, and funding, often in several countries at once, underscoring the relentless emergency work in the region.
“We can no longer afford to be caught off guard,” said Dr. Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “Our region has made significant progress in recent years, but every emergency that disrupts health systems and compromises the health and well-being of populations is an important lesson to be learned. We must put in place resilient systems to respond to health emergencies while effectively delivering routine services.” ”
Ministers also emphasized the need to integrate resilience into the core of health service delivery, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected areas. They stressed the importance of empowering leaders, improving coordination mechanisms, and ensuring that infrastructure and services can withstand future shocks. Past experiences will be used to guide system-wide improvements and strengthen preparedness at all levels.
Ministers also plan to closely involve communities in preparedness planning, co-develop early warning systems with frontline actors, and strengthen local organizations by providing them with the tools and training they need to respond effectively in emergencies. This shift toward localized preparedness is seen as essential to building trust, speeding up response times, and ensuring that no community is left behind.
Ministers recognized that these commitments must be supported by sustainable resources. To this end, they agreed to mobilize domestic financing so that preparedness and response efforts do not depend solely on external emergency appeals. Resources will be allocated where they are most needed, on the front lines, to meet immediate needs and build long-term capacity.
About Author
OTHER ARTICLES
Lusaka — African health ministers and partners are calling for increased investment in integrated health services to address the growing burden of severe noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), particularly those affecting women and underserved populations across the region. At a high-level side event during the Seventy-fifth session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa, delegates emphasized the urgent need for equitable access to prevention, screening, treatment, and rehabilitation across the continuum of care for NCDs. Disparities are especially pronounced in rural areas, where health infrastructure and services remain inadequate. Breast and cervical cancers are among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women in sub-Saharan Africa—particularly cervical cancer, which is both preventable and treatable. It remains the most common cause of cancer death for women in the region. In 2022, Africa accounted for nearly a quarter (23%) of the 76 000 global cervical cancer deaths. Meanwhile, severe NCDs such as Type 1 diabetes, sickle cell disease, and heart conditions claim more than half a million lives annually, including among children, adolescents, and young adults in some of the continent’s poorest communities. Inequitable access to health services continues to hinder efforts to reduce this burden. To improve cervical and breast cancer care in the region, urgent investment is needed in leadership, governance, and financing. Strengthening these foundations is critical in the current funding landscape. Advancements in strategic planning, healthcare infrastructure, workforce training, and—most importantly—equitable access to screening, diagnostic, and treatment services are essential. To address these challenges, WHO and its partners showcased successful integrated models such as the Women’s Integrated Care for Cancer Services (WICS), the BEAT Breast Cancer Project, and the PEN-Plus Strategy. WICS strengthens early detection, treatment, and integration of women’s cancer services into primary health care systems in Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, and Zimbabwe. The BEAT Breast Cancer Project is a transformative multi-year initiative aimed at reducing breast cancer mortality among women in Tanzania and Ghana through early detection, timely diagnosis, and comprehensive treatment access. “PEN-Plus, WICS and the BEAT Breast Cancer Initiative are models for a new standard of care, rooted in equity, access and health justice. I urge countries to prioritize policies that embed these models into broader health system strengthening, said Dr Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa”. Côte d’Ivoire offers a compelling example of progress, combining high HPV vaccination coverage—reaching over three million girls (91.4%)—with WICS-supported community-based screening campaigns to strengthen cervical cancer prevention. In Kenya, cervical cancer screening has been successfully integrated into national health services. “This gathering marks a pivotal moment to accelerate action for breast cancer prevention in Africa. We deeply value the leadership of the Ministries of Health of Ghana and Tanzania, and the steadfast support of the Pfizer Foundation in helping us achieve this milestone. The side event builds momentum for the policy prioritization of women’s cancers, partnerships to strengthen the broader women’s cancer ecosystem, and advance a health-systems approach to breast cancer prevention and management”, said Dr Somesh Kumar, Senior Director, Jhpiego. PEN-Plus expands access to care for severe NCDs at the district hospital level. Since its implementation, 20 countries in Africa have increased access to services for severe NCDs. Over 15 000 people are currently receiving treatment for chronic conditions such as sickle cell disease and Type 1 diabetes through PEN-Plus clinics.
Confirmed Case of Mpox in Senegal: Situation Update (as of August 27, 2025)
African health ministers adopt strategy to strengthen rehabilitation services in health care