Across Africa, the idea that everyone should have access to quality, affordable health care is deeply engrained. But now is the time to find the financing, domestically, to realise this vision.
Leaders have stood on podiums, signed declarations, and launched strategies, ranging from the Abuja Declaration to the Accra Compact to Agenda 2063. These commitments have been powerful rallying points, reinforcing the belief that good health is a right and not a privilege.
But too often, these promises remain on paper. Despite their symbolic power, implementation and financing have not followed. When budgets fall short, it is people, especially the most vulnerable, who pay the price.
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About the authors
Dr. William Nii Ayitey Menson
Dr. William Nii Ayitey Menson is director of health financing for Africa at ONE, where he leads strategy and advocacy to increase domestic and international investment in health. A physician by training, he has worked across nearly 20 countries, supporting health financing reforms, immunization programs, and COVID-19 response efforts. He previously held roles at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Clinton Health Access Initiative, and McKinsey & Company.
Dr. Justice Nonvignon
Dr. Justice Nonvignon is the technical director for health economics and financing at Management Sciences for Health and a professor of health economics at the University of Ghana. He previously served as the founding head of the health economics and financing program at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Nonvignon has advised numerous governments and global health institutions, including UNICEF and the World Bank, and serves on several expert panels, including the technical advisory panel of the Pandemic Fund.
