The Director-General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), H.E. Dr Jean Kaseya, has called for a radical shift in how Africa finances, manages, and delivers healthcare.
He warned that the continent’s health systems are under unprecedented pressure from disease outbreaks, climate shocks, and dwindling financial support.
Speaking at the launch of the Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA) 2025, Dr Kaseya described the event as a “decisive moment for the future of health in Africa”.
He stressed that the continent must move away from dependency toward health sovereignty—a state where Africa funds and sustains its own health priorities.
“Outbreaks of infectious diseases are rising sharply—up by more than 40% in just two years,
Climate shocks from floods to droughts are disrupting lives and weakening already fragile systems. Conflicts are displacing families and cutting communities off from care.” He said.
Dr. Kaseya noted that these crises are unfolding amid declining resources, with foreign assistance for health in Africa dropping by nearly 70% since 2021.
This, he said, has led to hospitals running out of supplies, communities losing access to clinics, and health workers being laid off.
“The progress we’ve made in maternal and child health, HIV, malaria, and non-communicable diseases is now at risk of being rolled back,
Africa cannot afford business as usual. We must rebuild systems that are strong, resilient, and self-sufficient,” he warned.
The upcoming CPHIA 2025, which he described as a “platform to shape Africa’s health future,” will bring together leaders, scientists, policymakers, and community voices to design solutions tailored to the continent’s realities.
Dr Kaseya highlighted that the conference will focus on transforming primary healthcare, strengthening sustainable financing, and boosting local capacity for vaccine, medicine, and diagnostic production.
“CPHIA will be about action. Commitments must lead to results, and strategies must translate into stronger systems. Declarations must save lives,” he emphasised.
On health financing, Dr Kaseya said many African countries are struggling with shrinking fiscal space and rising debt, but emphasised that solutions are emerging.
He cited the ACRA initiative and Africa CDC’s Health Financing for Sustainable Health Systems Strategy, which are helping countries refine financing plans, test innovative models, and mobilise new resources.
“These reforms are country-led, grounded in national priorities, and regionally supported,” he said. “They are essential to ensuring Africa has the financial systems to guarantee universal health coverage.”
Dr. Kaseya stressed that health financing is not only about funding but also justice and equity, noting that many women bear the brunt of health costs at the expense of their families’ well-being.
“Women should not have to choose between health care and feeding their children,” he stated. “Financing reform must be gender-responsive—empowering women as both leaders and beneficiaries of stronger health systems.”
He also urged African governments to explore innovative financing tools, such as health taxes, diaspora bonds, blended financing, and results-based models that ensure measurable outcomes.
Turning to Africa’s dependence on imports, Dr Kaseya lamented that the continent still relies on external sources for 90% of its medicines and vaccines, calling for urgent investment in local production capacity.
“During COVID-19, Ebola, and Marburg outbreaks, Africa experienced the painful reality of dependency,
That cannot be our future. African scientists are developing solutions tailored to our context, and we must support them,” he recalled.
Dr Kaseya concluded by reaffirming Africa CDC’s commitment to building a self-reliant, equitable, and resilient health ecosystem across the continent.
“Every dollar for health in Africa must go further, be aligned with national priorities, and deliver real impact. This is the time for Africa to take full ownership of its health destiny,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Co-Chair of the Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA) 2025 and President and CEO of Evidence-Based Solutions, Prof. Olive Shishana, said the event could not have come at a more critical time for Africa’s health systems.
“CPHIA 2025 is Africa’s flagship public health convening, co-hosted by the Africa CDC, the Government of South Africa, and Africa Bio.
Africa is facing a surge in outbreaks, a decline in aid, and health systems pushed to their limits. However, this moment is not just a crisis — it is an opportunity for Africa to lead, shape, and define its own health future,” she said.
Prof. Shishana stressed that SPHERE 2025 is not just a conference, but a platform for Africa to reclaim its leadership in global health.
“Self-reliance is not isolation — it is resilience,” she said, noting that the conference’s theme, Moving Towards Self-Reliance to Achieve Universal Health Coverage and Health Security in Africa, underscores the continent’s commitment to building sustainable systems.
She outlined three core pillars guiding the conference — primary healthcare transformation, predictable health financing, and local manufacturing — which are designed to translate policy into action.
These, she said, will be explored through eight thematic tracks covering areas such as digital health, financing innovation, and climate resilience.
“CPHIA 2025 is Africa’s moment — a launchpad for solutions that will make our systems stronger, fairer, and future-ready,” Prof. Shishana added.
