Africa CDC’s Health Agenda: Digital Transformation for Health Security

Addis Ababa, November 21, 2025 – The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has unveiled a new agenda focused on bolstering health security and sovereignty across the continent. This initiative comes at a critical juncture, as African nations grapple with increasing health threats, declining external aid, and the need for greater self-reliance in healthcare.

The agenda, built upon the foundations of the New Public Health Order (NPHO) endorsed by African Heads of State in 2022, aims to reduce dependency on external systems for manufacturing, procurement, supply chains, and financing within the health sector. According to Africa CDC officials, external health aid to the continent has decreased by nearly 70% since 2021, while disease outbreaks have risen by over 40% between 2022 and 2024. This concerning trend, coupled with challenges like climate change, geopolitical instability, and persistent health inequalities, underscores the urgency of strengthening African health systems.

The new agenda is structured around five interconnected pillars. While details of the first three pillars were not specified in available materials, the fourth pillar specifically highlights digital transformation as the “backbone of resilient primary health care.” This emphasis reflects a growing recognition of the potential of digital health technologies to address longstanding challenges in African healthcare delivery.

The need for digital transformation is particularly acute given the existing constraints within African health systems. The continent carries 23% of the global disease burden, yet accounted for only 1% of total global health expenditures in 2015. On average, healthcare spending per capita in Africa is approximately one-tenth of that in the rest of the world. Digital technologies offer opportunities to overcome these disparities by improving access to care, enhancing quality, increasing accountability, and reducing costs.

The Africa CDC’s digital transformation strategy, as outlined in a recent document, focuses on supporting Member States in harnessing the potential of digital health to overcome barriers to healthcare and public health. This includes leveraging digital tools for data collection, sharing, and utilization, as well as optimizing logistics and supply chains. The strategy aims to position the Africa CDC itself as a “digital-savvy organization,” leading by example in the adoption of digital health solutions.

The importance of digital innovation in strengthening health security was further emphasized at the Africa HealthTech Summit held in Kigali, Rwanda, in October 2023. The summit, co-located with the Mobile World Congress, brought together over 1,000 delegates to discuss strategies for accelerating digital health transformation. A keynote address by Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa CDC, and Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, Minister of Health of Rwanda, focused on a “New Africa Digital Health Deal” and the critical role of digital innovation.

The agenda’s focus on digital transformation aligns with a broader effort to reform the global health architecture, advocating for a more equitable system where African countries have decision-making power commensurate with their needs and contributions. This shift towards greater sovereignty is seen as essential for ensuring long-term health security and resilience on the continent.

The Africa CDC’s initiative builds on dialogues held with African Heads of State, including meetings led by President Kagame in February 2025 in Addis Ababa, President Mahama in August 2025 in Accra, and President Lourenço in September 2025 in New York. These consultations informed the development of the agenda and underscored the commitment of African leaders to prioritize health security and sovereignty.

While the specific details of how the digital transformation pillar will be implemented remain to be seen, the Africa CDC’s commitment to leveraging technology to strengthen health systems represents a significant step forward. The success of this agenda will depend on sustained investment, effective collaboration, and a continued focus on building local capacity to drive digital health innovation across the continent.

The Africa CDC’s vision for a more secure and sovereign health future for Africa is ambitious, but necessary. Addressing the challenges of limited resources, increasing disease burdens, and a changing global landscape requires a proactive and innovative approach, with digital transformation playing a central role.