Pandemic Preparedness in African Countries: Status Quo and the Way Forward

The document analyzes pandemic preparedness in Africa, categorizing nations into scientifically advanced, policy-advanced, and fragile states. It argues that while global actors like the WHO promote standardized frameworks and securitization, these often clash with local needs for long-term health system strengthening. The author highlights a disconnect where funding is directed toward reactionary measures and 'pre-approved studies' rather than sustainable infrastructure, particularly in authoritarian or fragile states.

• African countries exhibit diverse approaches to pandemic preparedness based on their geopolitical and economic status, falling into three conceptual categories: scientifically advanced states (e.g., South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Egypt), health-policy advanced states (e.g., Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania), and states facing significant socio-economic and political challenges (e.g., DRC, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sierra Leone, Eritrea).
• Scientifically advanced states prioritize long-term health system strengthening, including investments in hospitals, diagnostics, and vaccine trials. For example, Ghana opened a state-of-the-art hospital in Accra in June 2023 and reported the construction of a 597-bed University Hospital in Legon.
• Policy-advanced states, which are frequently authoritarian, tend to prioritize the 'securitization' of health threats, often integrating military resources into pandemic plans. In Uganda, this has led to the creation of a militarized National Public Health Institute (NPHI) and the allocation of budgets to the defence ministry for border surveillance.
• Fragile states face severe hurdles in developing comprehensive health policies due to insecurity and the diversion of budgets toward conflict. These populations are at higher risk of exposure to infectious diseases and may be subject to 'extractive' or unethical research by international scientists due to weak monitoring capacities.
• There is a significant disconnect between the priorities of global health actors and local needs. Global partners often favor 'reactionary' short-term measures and 'pre-approved studies' for real-time data, while local clinicians and policymakers emphasize the need for permanent health system strengthening.
• The effectiveness of border-control securitization is questioned in the African context due to porous borders. In Uganda, for instance, over 400km of the shared border with the DRC consists of informal paths that allow travel despite official restrictions.

APA

Akello, G. (2025). Pandemic Preparedness in African Countries: Status Quo and the Way Forward. Africa Policy Research Institute. https://afripoli.org/pandemic-preparedness-in-african-countries-status-quo-and-the-way-forward

Chicago

Akello, Grace. Pandemic Preparedness in African Countries: Status Quo and the Way Forward. Africa Policy Research Institute, 2025. https://afripoli.org/pandemic-preparedness-in-african-countries-status-quo-and-the-way-forward.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Akello |first1=Grace |title=Pandemic Preparedness in African Countries: Status Quo and the Way Forward |publisher=Africa Policy Research Institute |date=24 March 2025 |url=https://afripoli.org/pandemic-preparedness-in-african-countries-status-quo-and-the-way-forward |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{akello2025pandemic, author = {Akello, Grace}, title = {{Pandemic Preparedness in African Countries: Status Quo and the Way Forward}}, institution = {Africa Policy Research Institute}, year = {2025}, month = mar, url = {https://afripoli.org/pandemic-preparedness-in-african-countries-status-quo-and-the-way-forward}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }