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Africa’s Health Financing in a New Era

Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) (2025) CC

Africa’s health sector is facing an unprecedented financing crisis, driven by a sharp decline of 70% in Official Development Assistance (ODA) from 2021 to 2025 and deep-rooted structural vulnerabilities. This collapse is placing immense pressure on Africa’s already fragile health systems as ODA ...is seen as the backbone of critical health programs: pandemic preparedness, maternal and child health services, disease control programs are all at risk, threatening Sustainable Development Goal 3 and Universal Health Coverage. Compounding this is Africa’s spiraling debt, with countries expected to service USD 81 billion by 2025—surpassing anticipated external financing inflows—further eroding fiscal space for health investments. Level of domestic resources is low. TThe Abuja Declaration of 2001, a pivotal commitment made by African Union (AU) member states, aimed to reverse this trend by pledging to allocate at least 15% of national budgets to the health sector. However, more than two decades later, only three countries—Rwanda, Botswana, and Cabo Verde—have consistently met or exceeded this target (WHO, 2023). In contrast, over 30 AU member states remain well below the 10% benchmark, with some allocating as little as 5–7% of their national budgets to health. In addition, only 16 (29%) of African countries currently have updated versions of National Health Development Plan (NHDP) supported by a National Health Financing Plan (NHFP). These two documents play a critical role in driving internal resource mobilisation. At the same time, public health emergencies are surging, rising 41%—from 152 in 2022 to 213 in 2024—exposing severe under-resourcing of health infrastructure and workforce. Recurring outbreaks (Mpox, Ebola, cholera, measles, Marburg…) alongside effects of climate change and humanitarian crises in Eastern DRC, the Sahel, and Sudan, are overwhelming systems stretched by chronic underfunding. The situation is worsened by Africa’s heavy dependency with over 90% of vaccines, medicines, and diagnostics being externally sourced—leaving countries vulnerable to global supply chain shocks. Health worker shortages persist, with only 2.3 professionals per 1,000 people (below the WHO’s recommended 4.45), and fewer than 30% of systems are digitized, undermining disease surveillance and early warning. Without decisive action, Africa CDC projects the continent could reverse two decades of health progress, face 2 to 4 million additional preventable deaths annually, and a heightened risk of a pandemic emerging from within. Furthermore, 39 million more Africans could be pushed into poverty by 2030 due to intertwined health and economic shocks. This is not just a sectoral crisis—it is an existential threat to Africa’s political, social, and economic resilience, and global stability. In response, African leaders, under Africa CDC’s stewardship, are advancing a comprehensive three-pillar strategy centered on domestic resource mobilization, innovative financing, and blended finance. more

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Communication Risk in Public Health Emergencies
recommended

World Health Organization (WHO) (2018) C_WHO

A WHO Guideline for Emergency Risk Communication (ERC) policy and practice. Recent public health emergencies, such as the Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa (2014–2015), the emergence of the Zika virus syndrome in 2015–2016 and multi-country yellow fever outbreaks in Africa in 2016, h... more

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World mental health report: Transforming mental health for all - executive summary

World Health Organization WHO (2022) C_WHO

Mental health is critically important to everyone, everywhere. All over the world, mental health needs are high but responses are insufficient and inadequate. The World mental health report: transforming mental health for all is designed to inspire and inform better mental health for everyone everyw... more

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World mental health report: Transforming mental health for all

World Health Organization WHO (2022) C_WHO

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Screening for cardiovascular disease risk and subsequent management in low and middle income countries: challenges and opportunities

Bovet, P.; Chiolero, A.; Paccaud, F. et al. Public Health Reviews (2015) CC

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD), mainly heart attack and stroke, is the leading cause of premature mortality in low and middle income countries (LMICs). Identifying and managing individuals at high risk of CVD is an important strategy to prevent and control CVD, in addition to multisector... more

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Human Rights based research into COVID-19 related violations with focus on persons with disabilities

Malawi Human Rights Commission (2021) CC

The goal of the study was to assess the feasibility of the COVID-19 measures and their resultant impact on Persons with Disabilities in Malawi. Specifically, the study addressed the following objectives: a) To evaluate Government’s response to COVID-19 following the adoption of the new measures... more

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Guidance on easing lockdown

Africa CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2020) CC

In response to the first cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) reported on the continent, many African Union Member States implemented large-scale public health and social measures (PHSM) rapidly. These measures were aimed at reducing transmission and the number of new cases being reported, p... more

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The Future Is Inclusive – How to Make International Development Disability Inclusive

Mary Keogh, Monika Brenes, Priska Gronenberg et al. Christoffel Blinden Mission (CBM) (2014)

Series on Disability-Inclusive Development. This publication introduces the key concepts for disability-inclusive development and highlights practical examples by CBM, to contribute to the dialogue on disability-inclusive development

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Risk communication and community engagement guidance on COVID-19 vaccines for marginalised populations

Collective Service RCCE (2021) CC

This inter-agency guidance document aims to supplement the COVAX demand creation package for COVID-19 vaccines with key considerations for humanitarian contexts and marginalized populations with specific access and communication needs. 21 Sept.2021

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Guidance on Disability Inclusion for GBV Partners in Lebanon: Case Management of Survivors & At-risk Women, Children and Youth with Disabilities

Women's Refugee Commission (WRC) and UNICEF Lebanon (2018) CC

Persons with disabilities are one of the most vulnerable and socially excluded groups in any crisis-affected community. They may be in hidden in homes, overlooked during needs assessments and not consulted in the design of programs.4 While gender-based violence (GBV) affects women, girls, men and bo... more

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The 2030 Agenda: THE INCLUSION OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES - INTRODUCTORY TOOLKIT

International Disability Alliance (IDA) & International Disability and Development Consortium (IDDC) (2015) C2

This guide presents information about the 2030 Agenda, how it connects to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) and explores ways for persons with disabilities to be influential and participate in how they are achieved.

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Guidelines for the Clinical Management of HIV Infection in Myanmar, 5th ed.
recommended

The Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Ministry of Health, Department of Health, National AIDS Programme World Health Organization (WHO), Country Office for Myanmar (2017) C1

These guidelines aim to guide all health care providers in Myanmar, accommodating the situation of different settings in the context of progressive decentralization of HIV services. Notable changes from the previous edition include:
• diagnosis of HIV
• update on the initiation of ART<... more

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Guidance and technical packages on community mental health services: promoting person-centred and rights-based approaches

World Health Organization WHO (2021) C_WHO

The WHO Guidance on community mental health services: Promoting person-centred and rights-based approaches document is part of the WHO Guidance and technical packages on community mental health services set of publications. It provides a detailed description of person-centred and human rights-based ... more

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Charter on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action
recommended

United Nations (UN) (2016) C2

This Charter on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action has been developed in advance of the World Humanitarian Summit (23 and 24 May 2016, Istanbul) by over 70 stakeholders from States, UN agencies, the international civil society community and global, regional and national or... more

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Infection prevention and control guidance for long-term care facilities in the context of COVID-19: interim guidance, 8 January 2021
recommended

World Health Organization (WHO) (2021) C_WHO

This interim guidance is for LTCF managers and corresponding infection prevention and control (IPC) focal persons in LTCF and updates the guidance published in March 2020. The objective of this document is to provide guidance on IPC in LTCFs in the context of COVID-19 to 1) prevent COVID-19-virus fr... more

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Disability at a Glance 2015: STRENGTHENING EMPLOYMENT PROSPECTS FOR DISABILITY AT A GLANCE 2015 PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC

United Nations ESCAP (2015) C1

Disability at a Glance 2015 focuses on barriers to the employment of persons with disabilities in the Asia-Pacific region, and offers solutions to strengthen their employment prospects. Employment is not only the primary means of livelihood generation; it also provides individuals with the purpose a... more

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Are persons with disabilities included in the effort to leave no-one behind? Mapping disability data in development in Asia and the Pacific

United Nations Population Fund UNFPA (2022) C1

In the region, it is estimated that there are over 650 million persons with disabilities. However, without accurate, timely and disaggregated data, countries are unable to develop effective policies and programmes, monitor the wellbeing of persons with disabilities and evaluate the equity and impact... more

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"Out of the shadows" : a qualitative study of parents’ and professionals’ attitudes and beliefs about children with communication disability in Uganda and how best to help them

McGeown, J. Centre for International Health and Development (2012) CC

Dissertation submitted in part fulfilment of the requirements for a Masters degree at the Centre for International Health and Development (CIHD) at University College London (UCL) Institute of Child Health (ICH) The user has given permission for the uploaded document to be reproduced and made publi... more

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Removing Barriers: The Path towards Inclusive Access. Jordan Report, July 2018

Australian Agency for International Development, Handicap International - Humanity & Inclusion, iMMAP (2018) C1

22.9% of surveyed Syrian refugees aged 2 years and above had disabilities (1,374 persons out of 6,003 persons): 13.8% in Azraq camp, 23.5% in Irbid and 30.5% in Zaatari camp. Understanding disability as the level of difficulties a person is facing when performing basic activities that could put him/... more

Communication Risk in Public Health Emergencies recommended

Guidelines for the Clinical Management of HIV Infection in Myanmar, 5th ed. recommended

Charter on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action recommended

Infection prevention and control guidance for long-term care facilities in the context of COVID-19: interim guidance, 8 January 2021 recommended

Communication Risk in Public Health Emergencies
recommended

Guidelines for the Clinical Management of HIV Infection in Myanmar, 5th ed.
recommended

Charter on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action
recommended

Infection prevention and control guidance for long-term care facilities in the context of COVID-19: interim guidance, 8 January 2021
recommended