Africa is facing a surge in disease outbreaks, with the number of incidents increasing by 40% in recent years. The continent is grappling with the growing threat of misinformation, disinformation, and chronic underfunding of public health, which are severely undermining its ability to respond effectively to these health crises. These challenges are leaving millions at risk, as false or misleading information during health emergencies continues to erode public trust, fuel stigma, and delay timely treatment.
Diseases such as Mpox, measles, and Marburg have caused widespread confusion due to misinformation. This lack of understanding results in misdiagnosis, panic, and fear. As fear spreads, misinformation thrives, making it harder for people to differentiate between fact and fiction. Public health officials emphasize the need for accurate and timely communication, especially from journalists, to counter the spread of false narratives and provide the public with reliable, actionable information. Journalists play a critical role in combating the infodemic, which is often as dangerous as the disease itself.
Apart from misinformation, Africa’s fragile health systems, fragmented disease surveillance, and chronic funding shortages also exacerbate the continent’s vulnerability to outbreaks. Many African countries still struggle with limited local production of medical supplies, which increases reliance on external aid. In 2022, low-income countries in Sub-Saharan Africa relied on external funding for 31% of health expenditures, a significant increase from just 11% in 2003. Meanwhile, domestic government spending on health has decreased from 33% in 2002 to just 21% in 2022.
The overreliance on external aid makes African health systems vulnerable to global political shifts. For instance, the US’s withdrawal from the World Health Organization and cuts in USAID funding have widened the funding gaps for essential programs such as PEPFAR, which provides life-saving HIV treatment across the continent. With such financial volatility, the need for more domestic health funding has become critical. Experts argue that African countries should increase their health budgets and reduce their dependency on external aid to build more resilient and sustainable health systems.
One of the significant obstacles to improving public health is Africa’s dependency on imported medical supplies. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed how limited the continent’s access to essential vaccines and protective equipment was due to global supply chain disruptions. Africa currently produces less than 1% of its vaccines, a gap that must be addressed to ensure future health security. Although progress is underway, with an increasing number of vaccine manufacturers operating within Africa, challenges remain in strengthening local production capabilities. To support this, initiatives like the Africa Epidemics Fund and the African Pooled Procurement Mechanism have been launched to strengthen supply chains and increase negotiating power for health commodities.
Furthermore, Africa’s disease surveillance systems need significant improvements. Although the Africa CDC is working on transitioning from event-based to case-based and indicator-based surveillance, current systems still lack integration and are not fully capable of predicting and preventing outbreaks. Stronger collaboration between the media and health institutions is crucial to ensuring that communities receive the necessary information in times of crisis.
Health experts also highlight the linguistic and cultural barriers that hinder the effective communication of scientific information. Many scientific publications are written in English, making it difficult for non-English-speaking communities to access critical health information. The Africa CDC is advocating for the publication of scientific research in all African Union languages to improve accessibility.
To close the health financing gap, experts suggest looking at homegrown solutions, such as solidarity levies on airline tickets, alcohol, and mobile services, as well as tapping into Africa’s $95 billion in annual diaspora remittances. The continent’s ability to respond to health crises is not only dependent on external funding but also on the political will and financial commitment to strengthen local health systems and improve public health infrastructure.
