Opinion: Africa is better prepared for future pandemics
The African continent has been taking steps in the right direction for continental pandemic preparedness, driven in part by COVID-19. These efforts must continue with a sense of urgency and efficiency — in the areas of surveillance systems, domestic finance mechanisms, regulatory oversight, national public health institutes, and funding sustainability.
The second International Conference on Public Health in Africa, hosted in December 2022 by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in partnership with the Rwanda Ministry of Health provided a platform to discuss pandemic preparedness from an African lens and debate what we got right as a continent, and where we need to collaboratively work together to forge a path toward an Africa prepared to respond.
In early 2021, Africa watched the global north rapidly progress with mass vaccinations for COVID-19, while it pleaded for vaccine doses to be made available for its people. By the end of December 2021, when the United States and many countries in Europe had vaccinated over 50% of their populations, Africa had only managed to vaccinate close to 11%.
About the authors
Gerald Chirinda
Gerald Chirinda is the founder of Future Africa Forum; in this role, he engages leaders and governments to advance Africa's prosperity. He has also founded and continues to serve several other organizations including Educate, an education access and improvement company, Youth Combating NTDs, a global community of young people who are fighting to end Neglected Tropical Diseases. He is a recipient of several leadership fellowships and serves on various advisory boards.
Shingai Machingaidze
Shingai Machingaidze is an epidemiologist and public health specialist. She has developed and led public health and clinical research programs that build the capacity of Africa-based scientists and institutions. She is currently the senior science officer for Africa CDC in the office of the director, as well as the International Conference on Public Health in Africa secretariat lead.
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