Official Development Assistance for Africa has fallen by 70 per cent since 2021. The continent carries a quarter of the world’s disease burden while contributing less than one per cent to global health expenditure. Researchers say this financing gap is also an opportunity to build sustainable, locally led health systems.
There are African examples of science and vaccine work. Senegal’s Institut Pasteur of Dakar is scaling up vaccine manufacturing and plans a complex for 300 million doses a year. South Africa’s Biovac and Afrigen work on vaccine innovation and mRNA transfer. In August, health leaders met in Lusaka at the 75th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa and urged less dependence on external finance. Researchers call for financing the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator and faster action on the African Medicines Agency and AfCFTA policies.
Difficult words
- challenge — A difficult problem or situation to overcome.challenges
- support — Help or assistance for a cause or project.
- research — Careful study to find or prove something.
- investing — Putting money or resources into something for profit.
- effective — Producing the desired result; successful.
- opportunities — Chances to do something or make progress.
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Discussion questions
- What do you think about African countries leading their own health research?
- How can local health research impact the economy?
- What are some challenges that African nations might face in health research?
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