Addis ababa: WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Mohamed Yakub Janabi, has stressed the need to advance innovative domestic financing and local manufacturing in order to realize a more resilient health system in Africa.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, Dr. Janabi highlighted that financial and geopolitical crises, along with climate change, are among the challenges confronting the health sector. To build a more resilient health system on the continent, WHO’s approaches will be aligned with the priorities of 47 member states, he added.
Dr. Janabi emphasized the importance of investing in primary health care and community health workers, who are closer to the population. He noted that when discussing health sovereignty, it is about countries taking responsibility for the health of their population. Increasing the health budget in line with national priorities is deemed essential.
He further underscored the necessity of innovative domestic financing and the involvement of the private sector. The reliance on imported medicines limits access to affordable and effective healthcare, as over 80 percent of medicines and products are produced outside the continent.
Dr. Janabi stated that innovative domestic financing and local manufacturing are crucial to reducing import dependency. This should be accompanied by building a qualified healthcare workforce and leveraging technology. A proper assessment to identify essential needs and plan accordingly, in line with regulatory systems, is vital.
Addressing the decline in global health funds for Africa, Dr. Janabi urged stakeholders to collaborate and explore new solutions for emerging challenges. He suggested that governments could increase health budgets, engage with donors, and channel donations through national institutes.
The Regional Director’s engagement with national authorities and representatives from the AU, UN, and development partners in Addis Ababa highlighted the importance of health financing and local manufacturing to strengthen health sovereignty, emergency preparedness, and health priorities in Africa.