Africa remains vulnerable to future pandemics, despite facing a growing number of disease outbreaks, the head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has warned.
Speaking at the International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA) in Durban, South Africa, Dr Jean Kaseya said the continent struggles with weak governance, limited funding, shortages of skilled personnel, poor data management, and constrained access to medical supplies.
“My first question when there is an outbreak is: where do we find vaccines, medicines, and diagnostics? This is why we are pushing for local manufacturing,” he said.
Dr Kaseya highlighted the fragility of African health systems, recalling that during the Covid-19 pandemic, more than 2.7 million people were infected and at least 65,000 died across the continent.
While many countries have established National Public Health Institutes, he said preparedness remains patchy and under-resourced.
“When an outbreak occurs, we still scramble to put in place ad hoc committees that dissolve as soon as the crisis is over. We need stronger institutional memory and permanent structures to respond to health threats,” he added.
Africa’s reliance on imported vaccines, diagnostics, and medicines remains a critical challenge, Dr Kaseya said, stressing the need for homegrown solutions to prevent delays during emergencies.
The CPHIA, organised by Africa CDC, provides a platform for leaders across the continent to reflect on lessons learned in health and science, and to share practical, evidence-based solutions to Africa’s public health challenges.
This year’s conference, held from 22 to 25 October, carried the theme: “Moving Towards Self-Reliance to Achieve Universal Health Coverage and Health Security in Africa.”
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