HARARE, Zimbabwe: The primary health organization in Africa, Africa CDC, is utilizing the inaugural health day at Cop on December 3 to advocate for increased funding to combat the health ramifications of the climate crisis on the continent.
They aim to fortify systems to better prepare for future pandemics. Despite launching the second phase of their $1.5 billion Saving Lives and Livelihoods initiative, Dr Jean Kaseya, the director general, emphasized the urgent need for more financial support.
Kaseya urged for additional funding from international sources such as the World Bank pandemic fund, Pepfar, and the Global Fund to address multiple disease outbreaks, non-communicable diseases, and the post-Covid recovery, especially after Africa faced 158 disease outbreaks between January and November 2023.
He highlighted the climate crisis as a major contributor to health challenges, exemplified by rising cholera and dengue cases across the continent. Kaseya stressed the necessity of a resilient health system capable of handling outbreaks, underscoring the risk that any missed outbreak might escalate into a pandemic originating from Africa due to climate change.
This urgency, he explained, emerged from the lessons learned during the 2013-2016 Ebola epidemic and the Covid pandemic, exposing Africa’s health vulnerabilities and the imperative for local vaccine and medicine manufacturing. Africa CDC aims to boost local vaccine production to 60% by 2040, viewing it as pivotal for economic growth, job creation, innovation, and regional stability.
Moreover, Kaseya emphasized the critical need to train more health workers, citing the shortage of skilled personnel to respond effectively to outbreaks. While encouraging national governments to support their vision for a robust health system, Kaseya highlighted the varying budgetary capacities among countries, compounded by the economic toll of Covid and the climate crisis.
Finally, addressing Cop28, Kaseya underscored Africa’s plea for attention, spotlighting the direct and indirect impact of climate change on the continent’s economy and its consequent strain on healthcare budgets.
