NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 12– Amref Health Africa has called on African governments to increase domestic health financing and strengthen primary healthcare systems as declining international aid threatens the sustainability of essential health services across the continent.

📻 Breaking It Down

The health organization warned that Africa must reduce its vulnerability to unpredictable external funding by investing in health workers, community-based services and locally led systems, while maintaining international partnerships to support countries facing severe fiscal constraints.

The call comes as global health leaders meet in Berlin for the World Health Summit, where Amref is advocating for reforms that place African governments and institutions at the centre of health financing and service delivery.

Amref cited a 23.1 per cent decline in official development assistance in 2025, warning that funding reductions expose weaknesses in health systems that rely on short-term external support to sustain HIV treatment, immunization, maternal and newborn care, nutrition programmes and other essential services.

📌 What You Need to Know

“Africa does not lack health priorities and what is missing is financed delivery,” said Amref Health Africa Group Chief Executive Officer Githinji Gitahi.

He said health systems must be rooted in primary healthcare and aligned with African priorities to protect communities against disease outbreaks, climate shocks and financial uncertainty.

The organization argued that governments need greater domestic fiscal capacity and stronger public institutions, while international partners should provide predictable funding aligned with national priorities rather than establish parallel systems.

Amref said stronger primary healthcare systems are essential to improving access to services, strengthening disease surveillance and preparing communities for public health emergencies.

It emphasized the need for adequately financed and fairly remunerated health workers, particularly community health workers who often serve as the first point of contact between communities and the formal healthcare system.

According to the organization, effective health security begins at the community level, where outbreaks are first detected and where access to reliable information, routine immunization and essential services can determine the scale of an emergency.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya