Declining global aid and persistent health challenges have led African research leaders to call for greater regional control of health research and development. Strengthening health research, development and innovation (RD&I) would improve pandemic preparedness, support universal health coverage and help secure access to safe, effective and affordable medicines and vaccines.
There are growing African-led efforts. Senegal’s Institut Pasteur of Dakar is scaling up vaccine manufacturing and has begun a manufacturing complex with capacity for 300 million doses a year. South Africa’s Biovac and Afrigen are advancing vaccine innovation and mRNA technology transfer. Kenya’s BioVax Institute promotes RD&I and Côte d’Ivoire has ratified the African Medicines Agency Treaty and adopted a Startup Act for new companies.
At the 75th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa in Lusaka, delegates urged reductions in dependency on external financing and argued for positioning health as a pillar of regional trade and industrial growth. Researchers propose urgent policy steps, including financing the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator and accelerating the operationalisation of the African Medicines Agency.
Difficult words
- challenge — a difficult situation or problem.challenges
- health — the state of being free from illness.health outcomes, health systems
- invest — to put money or effort into something.investing
- innovate — to create new ideas or methods.innovation
- develop — to grow or improve something.development
- opportunity — a chance to do something.
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Discussion questions
- Why is investing in local health research important for Africa?
- How do improvements in health systems affect the economy?
- What role can innovation play in solving health challenges?
- In what ways can African countries collaborate for better health outcomes?
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