the aid library

LIST OPTIONS

Filter

7433

Challenges and Opportunities for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in the COVID-19 Response in Africa: A Mixed-Methods Study

Walker, A. et al. (2022) CC

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 9313. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159313. A mixed-methods study, using an online survey and in-depth interviews, was conducted. Participants included Mental Health Focal Points at the Ministries of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO) country ... more

External Link

South Africa’s capacity to conduct antimicrobial stewardship

Chetty, S. Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases (2021) CC

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as a serious public health threat was globally acknowledged by WHO in 2015, through the launch of the Global Action Plan (GAP). With a limited number of new antibiotics in the developmental pipeline, many countries are in the process of establishing strategies for anti... more

Download (459)

View PDF (529)

WHO's Health Emergency Appeal 2023

World Health Organisation (WHO) (2023) C_WHO

WHO needs US$2.54 billion to provide life-saving assistance to millions of people around the world facing health emergencies. WHO’s Health Emergency Appeal is a consolidation of WHO’s priorities and financial requirements for 2023 to carry out health interventions in emergency and humanitarian r... more

Download (155)

View PDF (113)

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

Download (428)

View PDF (364)

Health workforce thresholds for supporting attainment of universal health coverage in the African Region

Health Workforce Team of the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (WHOAFRO) WHO Regional Office for Africa (2021) C_WHO

Download (217)

View PDF (246)

Containment strategies: lessons from early COVID-19 responses in five African countries

World Health Organization WHO, Regional Office of Africa; AHOP WHO Regional Office for Africa (2021) C_WHO

The number of COVID-19 cases is on the rise again, with South Africa nearing half of all confirmed cases in the WHO African Region. Threats of new variants loom and low vaccination coverage raises questions on the future of the response to COVID-19. Prevention remains the key strategy in most sub-Sa... more

Download (199)

View PDF (343)

The effects of COVID-19 on persons living with hypertension

World Health Organization WHO, Regional Office of Africa (2021) C_WHO

based on information as at 28 February 2021 Rapid Policy Brief Series Series 14: COVID-19 and hypertension

Download (265)

View PDF (363)

Efficacy of corticosteroids in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia - based on information as at 12 June 2020

World Health Organization WHO; Regional Office for Africa (2020) C_WHO

Download (248)

View PDF (373)

Report of adolescent health services barriers assessment in Ethiopia 2021

Ministry of Health Ethiopia, WHO Regional Office for Africa WHO Regional Office for Africa (2021) C_WHO

Download (256)

View PDF (267)

Health system governance and management for COVID-19 response- based on information as of 12 January 2021

World Health Organization WHO, Regional Office of Africa (2021) C_WHO

Download (217)

View PDF (255)

COVID-19 Rapid Policy Brief - Series 12: COVID-19 Response Capacity with the Health System

World Health Organization WHO, Regional Office of Africa (2021) C_WHO

Download (250)

View PDF (258)

Psychological toll of COVID-19 among healthcare provider— based on information as at 5 February 2021

World Health Organization WHO, Regional Office of Africa (2021) C_WHO

Rapid Policy Brief

Download (230)

View PDF (280)

Stratégies d’endiguement : enseignements tirés de la première riposte à la COVID-19 dans cinq pays africains

AHOP WHO Regional Office for Africa (2021) CC

Le nombre de cas de COVID-19 augmente à nouveau, l’Afrique du Sud comptant pour près de la moitié de tous les cas confirmés de la Région africaine de l’OMS. La menace de nouveaux variants plane, et la faible couverture vaccinale soulève des questions concernant les mesures qui devront êtr... more