A look at Africa's new public health order

Africa has long grappled with a high disease burden and frequent public health emergencies, prompting the Africa CDC to introduce a new public health order aimed at bolstering health security on the continent. The order, comprising five key pillars, seeks to address critical areas to enhance Africa's public health landscape. The first pillar focuses on strengthening African public health institutions, recognizing the vital role they play in responding to health crises. The second pillar emphasizes the need to enhance the public health workforce across the continent, emphasizing the importance of skilled professionals like epidemiologists and improving lab capacity. Additionally, expanding the local manufacturing of health products, such as lab kit diagnostics, vaccines, and medicines, is highlighted as a crucial goal to reduce Africa's reliance on imported health supplies. The fourth pillar emphasizes the importance of increasing domestic investment in health, urging countries to meet the target of allocating 15 percent of their national budget to the health sector. Lastly, promoting action-oriented and inclusive partnerships is underscored as essential for garnering support from various stakeholders invested in Africa's health security. Dr. Benjamin, a key figure in the Africa CDC, stresses the importance of expediting domestic investment in health post-COVID-19. While progress has been made, he acknowledges the need for accelerated efforts to meet the required investment levels. The new public health order is set to positively impact public health institutions in Africa, particularly by strengthening national public health agencies across the continent. Dr. Benjamin highlights the necessity of robust national health institutions to address health emergencies effectively, enabling ministries of health to focus on strategic initiatives while national institutions handle emergency response. Moreover, the order aims to enhance the health and livelihoods of communities by prioritizing workforce development at all levels, including community health workers. By empowering communities to handle health challenges locally, the order aims to create sustainable solutions that improve overall well-being. Trust-building emerges as a vital component of the plan, with a focus on engaging communities, dispelling misinformation, and fostering inclusive dialogue to ensure public buy-in and participation. Dr. Benjamin emphasizes the critical need to address climate change as a pressing global health threat. He stresses the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration, transformative policies, technology advancements, and sustainable practices to mitigate the impact of climate change on population health. Specific actions, such as addressing urban transportation and agricultural practices in booming African cities, are identified as key strategies to combat climate change. By investing in innovative policies and technologies, Africa can better prepare for and respond to the challenges posed by climate change.