After two decades of measurable gains, Africa now faces growing pressure on health progress. Across 15 countries in Sub‑Saharan Africa life expectancy rose from 49 to 61 years and under‑five mortality was cut by half, but recent trends show those gains stalling.
In 2024 Africa accounted for over 270 million malaria cases (96% of the global total) and nearly 595,000 deaths (97% of global malaria mortality). Evidence shows almost three quarters of infant and early childhood deaths involve multiple conditions, including malaria, malnutrition and pneumonia.
Many systems still rely on vertical, disease‑specific programmes that ran alongside national structures. Research funding often prioritises short‑term, disease‑specific trials while health systems research and implementation science are underfunded. More local clinical and implementation research, embedded in care and close to communities, is needed to know which interventions work and how to scale them.
Difficult words
- life expectancy — average years people are expected to live
- under‑five mortality — number of deaths of children under five
- stall — slow down or stop progress for a timestalling
- malaria — disease spread by mosquitoes, often serious
- mortality — the number of deaths in a group
- vertical — focused on one disease or specific problem
- embedded — placed inside another system or service
- implementation — the process of putting plans into action
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Which of the problems mentioned (malaria, malnutrition, pneumonia) do you think needs the most attention in your country, and why?
- How could more local clinical and implementation research help health services in communities?
- What changes could help prevent the stalling of health progress in Africa?
