Last year, Dr. Mohamed Yakub Janabi was appointed as the new regional director of the World Health Organization's office for Africa — taking office at the beginning of July during a complex, unprecedented moment.
In the wake of drastic foreign aid cuts that abruptly hit health systems across the continent, his first seven months in office were marked by a period that was “very intense for stabilization, refocusing, rebuilding confidence in our systems,” he said during a Devex Pro event last week. On top of that, health authorities across Africa responded to 114 health outbreaks on the continent last year.
“Did the [aid] cuts affect us? Definitely,” he said. He said that in some countries, there will be up to 60% disruptions in areas such as essential health services, maternal care, vaccinations, surveillance, and workforce training.