DAR ES SALAAM: AFRICAN countries have been urged to adopt a stronger and more self-reliant approach to health security by increasing domestic investment, strengthening local production and modernising health systems.
Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Acting Deputy Director-General Raji Tajudeen said the shift was crucial if the continent was to achieve sustainable health security and greater control over its health systems.
Dr Tajudeen made the call while representing the Director-General, Jean Kaseya, at the Fourth Eastern Africa Regional Ministerial Steering Committee (ReSCO) meeting held in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
He said Africa could no longer rely on reactive and fragmented responses to health emergencies, calling for a transition to proactive and coordinated action.
“We cannot continue to do the same thing the same way and expect different results. We need to take the bull by the horns and shift from reactive responses to proactive and coordinated action,” he said.
Dr Tajudeen underscored the need to scale up local manufacturing of medicines, vaccines, diagnostics and other essential health products, saying Africa CDC was working with member states to increase local production from less than 10 per cent to 60 per cent by 2040.
He said achieving the target would require African countries to rethink their role in the global health architecture to ensure a stronger voice in decision-making and reduce duplication among development partners.
On financing, Dr Tajudeen urged countries to increase domestic investment in health and work towards the African Union Abuja Declaration target of allocating 15 per cent of national budgets to the sector.
He noted that only three African countries had consistently met the target, stressing the need to treat health financing as a long-term investment rather than an emergency response.
Dr Tajudeen cited Tanzania as an example of sustained political commitment, particularly in maternal and child health, noting a decline in maternal mortality from 556 deaths per 100,000 live births about a decade ago to around 103 per 100,000.
“Tanzania has shown Africa and the world that it is possible when we make predictable, sustainable and innovative investment in maternal and child health a priority,” he said.
He commended President Samia Suluhu Hassan for championing maternal and child health and urged other countries to draw lessons from Tanzania’s experience.
Dr Tajudeen also called for stronger regional cooperation, including improved data sharing, joint disease surveillance, stronger laboratory systems and coordinated preparedness and response.
“The Africa we want will not be built by speeches alone. It will be built by our collective action,” he said.
Meanwhile, the United Nations has commended Tanzania for reforms in its health sector, particularly efforts to expand access to quality healthcare, strengthen primary healthcare and advance universal health coverage.
World Health Organisation Representative to Tanzania Alex Gasasira said the country’s progress demonstrated the impact of strong leadership and sustained investment.
He said health security was a shared responsibility, requiring enhanced preparedness, surveillance, laboratory capacity and cross-border coordination amid growing health threats.
“Investing in the health of women, newborns and children is among the most powerful investments any nation can make because it saves lives, strengthens human capital, reduces inequalities and supports sustainable development,” he said.