The African Union and the European Commission have launched new health initiatives worth over €100 million to boost health security, digital systems, and local manufacturing across Africa. 

Dr Tolbert Geewleh Nyenswah, Director for Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response at the Africa CDC, disclosed this on Thursday during the agency’s weekly high-level regional press briefing.

Mr Nyenswah said the initiatives, implemented under the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, would support pandemic preparedness and response, strengthen National Public Health Institutes, and expand digital health systems for primary healthcare delivery.

He said that the programme would also promote a one health approach, integrating human, animal and environmental health systems to improve detection and response to disease threats.

According to him, the partnership marks a significant step towards building resilient and self-reliant health systems driven by African priorities.

He said that the initiative would advance digital transformation across the continent, enabling countries to leverage data and emerging technologies to improve surveillance, service delivery and health outcomes.

The director further said that Africa CDC was strengthening collaboration on innovation following engagements with Abiy Ahmed Ali, the African Union’s champion on artificial intelligence and digital transformation.

He said discussions highlighted the importance of artificial intelligence and digital tools in improving access to care and accelerating responses to public health emergencies.

On financing, he emphasised the need for increased domestic investment and efficient resource utilisation, noting that declining external assistance requires countries to take greater ownership of their health systems.

He called for a shift from fragmented, donor-driven interventions to coordinated, country-led approaches that deliver measurable impact for communities.

He said the new initiatives aligned with Africa CDC’s broader agenda to advance health security and sovereignty, including local manufacturing, institutionalisation of pandemic preparedness frameworks and sustainable financing.

(NAN)