The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has praised the Government of Zambia for raising its health budget allocation from 7% in 2021 to 12% today, reflecting a stronger political commitment to build resilient health systems and ensure sustainability. AHF also commended the broader efforts of African leaders and regional institutions for taking bold action on critical public health priorities.
This progress comes as Africa’s health sector faces growing challenges, including a 70% decline in Official Development Assistance between 2021 and 2025 and mounting debt burdens, with $81 billion in repayments due this year. Despite these pressures, African governments are working to reduce reliance on foreign aid and strengthen local health capacity.
The African Health Sovereignty Summit, hosted by Ghana’s President John Mahama, highlighted the continent’s determination to achieve self-reliance in health and establish Africa as an equal player in global health governance. Other leaders have taken on key areas of focus, with Kenya’s President William Ruto leading on regional production, Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu on workforce development, Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame on health financing, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa on pandemic preparedness, and Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema on cholera response.
Institutions such as the African Union (AU), Africa CDC, and AUDA-NEPAD are working with governments to mobilize resources, expand vaccine and medical commodity production, and strengthen regional frameworks. Progress is already evident in manufacturing, financing, and regulatory improvements that support health system resilience.
In early 2025, the Africa CDC launched the “Africa’s Health Financing in a New Era” strategy, and later, in partnership with AU bodies, established a team to enhance policy coherence, efficiency, and collective implementation.
AHF Executive Vice President Dr. Penninah Iutung noted that Africa’s shift from a donor-recipient model toward sovereignty and shared ownership is transformative. She highlighted the benefits of stronger regional systems, including pooled procurement, coordinated responses, and greater negotiating power globally. She also urged governments to continue adopting innovative financing, such as debt swaps, and to strengthen cross-border cooperation for a fairer and more sustainable health future.
