In response to a reduction in US funding, China and South Korea have contributed $4 million to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). This financial support aims to address the immediate funding shortfall left by former President Donald Trump’s freeze on aid. Africa receives around 84% of its health funding from abroad, with the US previously committing $500 million to the Africa CDC. However, that commitment was recently lowered to $385 million, leaving the health body with a significant gap.
To fill the void, Africa CDC is continuing its discussions with the US government, emphasizing the importance of security cooperation. The organization is also engaging the private sector and has launched the African Epidemic Fund, which is designed to manage leftover COVID-19 funds and assist in handling new funding gaps. This new fund provides Africa CDC with the flexibility to respond quickly to health emergencies without requiring approval from African Union bodies.
Additionally, there’s growing support for local manufacturing of health products in Africa. A significant development is the upcoming technical transfer of mpox vaccine production from Bavarian Nordic A/S to an African company, with details of the agreement expected to be finalized soon. This move represents a step toward strengthening Africa’s self-sufficiency in health initiatives.