The Director-General of the WHO conveyed this message during a regional ministerial meeting held in Namibia and organized by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), an agency of the African Union's public health body.
The high-ranking official highlighted the health achievements made by Africa over the past 25 years. He emphasized a significant increase in life expectancy by more than 10 years, a reduction in maternal mortality by more than a third, and a decrease in child mortality by more than twofold.
He stated that Africans are living longer and leading healthier lives than ever before, which is cause for celebration. However, he warned that the continent continues to face serious challenges.
These challenges include the rise of non-communicable diseases and mental disorders, epidemics and pandemics, the consequences of climate change and pollution on health, instability, population displacement, antimicrobial resistance, shortage of medical personnel, as well as unequal access to medical services and products.
Tedros noted that all these difficulties have been exacerbated by sudden cuts in international health financing. As of 2025, Official Development Assistance has decreased by approximately 40%.
The WHO Director-General said that many African leaders have viewed this crisis as an opportunity to leave behind the era of dependency and realize the long-awaited dream of African health sovereignty. He advocated the idea that the most effective and equitable source of health financing is the national budget.
To this end, he called for generating new revenue through taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks. Furthermore, according to Tedros, it is crucial to expand domestic and regional production of medicines, vaccines, and diagnostic tools, which is necessary not only to ensure health security but also to stimulate employment, innovation, and economic growth.
He assured that health should not be viewed as an expenditure item to be restricted; it is an investment that must be made in people, stability, and the future of Africa—a future that everyone desires: a healthier, safer, and fairer Africa.
As an illustration of these needs, he mentioned the current Ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where detection and response to the outbreak have been severely undermined due to cuts, experts and organizations reported.
Tedros concluded that the Ebola epidemic serves as a reminder that a threat to one country is a threat to all, and that the best defense lies in resilient and self-sufficient systems, as well as regional solidarity.
The fifth meeting of the Africa CDC Regional Steering Committee for Southern Africa is taking place against the backdrop of sharp reductions in international aid introduced by the United States and several European countries since last year, which has jeopardized the health and lives of millions of people worldwide, especially in Africa.