President John Dramani Mahama has called for renewed political commitment and bold action to address Africa’s persistent health challenges, warning that millions of people across the continent continue to live with serious diseases without diagnosis or access to timely treatment.
According to the President, more than 90 million Africans living with hepatitis B or C remain undiagnosed, while malaria continues to place a significant burden on health systems across the continent.
Speaking at the African Union Extraordinary Health Summit in Accra, where Heads of State and Government met to adopt a fully costed continental roadmap aimed at ending AIDS and tuberculosis by 2030, President Mahama urged African leaders to work together to transform healthcare delivery.
He also highlighted the growing threat of non-communicable diseases, noting that they account for more than two million deaths each year among Africans under the age of 70.
In his opening address, President Mahama said Africa must move beyond traditional approaches to healthcare and embrace innovative, long-term solutions capable of addressing the continent’s complex health needs.
“Neglected tropical diseases still blind, disfigure and stigmatise our people, and if you are observant you will notice that most accounts of the global infectious diseases burden present a uniquely depressing African perspective,” he said.
The President stressed that Africa must reduce its dependence on external assistance and build resilient health systems capable of responding to the continent’s own priorities.
“Africa now stands at a crossroads defined by its appetite for total health transformation. It can no longer allow itself to be pushed to the periphery and cast as the destitute beneficiary of the largesse of some distant global health systems,” he stated.
President Mahama further emphasised that the commitments made at the summit must translate into concrete action rather than remain as declarations.
He called for sustained political will, increased investment in healthcare and stronger health systems to improve access to quality healthcare and effectively combat both infectious and non-communicable diseases across the continent.
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