Africa has reduced HIV infections by 40%, but health systems remain fragile — WHO
The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has observed that Africa may lose critical health gains due to declining external funding, despite progress made in tackling diseases such as HIV.
According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the continent is home to about 60% of all people living with HIV globally.
Approximately 25.6 million people in the region have HIV, leading to an overall continent-wide prevalence rate of about 3.4% among adults aged 15 to 49.
Speaking at the African Union Extraordinary Summit on Universal Health Coverage and Ending AIDS in Accra on Wednesday, July 22, Dr. Tedros said Africa has recorded significant progress in reducing new HIV infections.
However, the WHO boss noted that the continent continues to carry the heaviest burden of the disease globally.
He urged African leaders to prioritise stronger health systems and increased domestic investment.
"Africa has made extraordinary progress against HIV, with new infections down 40% since 2010, but Africa still carries the heaviest burden, and as external funding declines, we risk losing ground," he said.
The WHO Director-General said challenges facing Africa’s health sector, including maternal health, tuberculosis, malaria, neglected tropical diseases and rising non-communicable diseases, are interconnected and require a comprehensive response.
He also highlighted the impact of conflicts on healthcare delivery, citing the Ebola outbreak in Bunya, Ituri Province, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where insecurity has affected contact tracing efforts and limited health workers’ access to communities.
Dr. Tedros called on African governments to increase domestic financing for healthcare, invest in primary healthcare and support local manufacturing of health products as part of efforts to build resilient health systems.
"Let domestic resources lead. Invest in primary healthcare and local manufacturing. Use the science available today, protect the most vulnerable, and hold each other accountable, because the declaration is only as strong as the follow-through behind it," he stated.