Public-Private Partnerships: A Catalyst for Women’s Health in Africa

Fundamental inequities exist within health systems that have a detrimental effect on the diagnosis, treatment and care that women receive. In the mission to address the complex health challenges women face in Africa, the synergy between public and private sectors have proven to be instrumental in leveraging the unique strengths and resources of both sectors, […]
Cost Effectiveness of Cervical Cancer Screening Tests in Kenya

Due to limited access to screening and treatment, the cervical cancer incidence rate is more than 5 times higher in Kenya compared to High Income Countries (HICs)³. Inequitable access to vaccines against human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is poised to worsen cervical cancer disparities in the future. Cervical cancer stands as the predominant HPV-related disease, with […]
Advancing Sickle Cell Disease Management in Africa: Drawing Lessons from the UK’s NHS Investment in Automated Red Blood Cell Exchange Technology (Spectra Optia®)

Burden of disease Sickle cell disease (SCD) remains a significant public health challenge across Africa, with 75% of SCD cases occurring in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Without proactive measures, it is estimated that 50-90% of affected children do not survive beyond their fifth birthday.[1] However, recent advancements in treatment, particularly red blood cell exchange technologies, offer […]
Bridging the Healthcare Divide: Private Equity’s Impact on Cardiovascular Diagnostics in Africa

Burden of disease Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading cause of disability and premature death on a global scale, contributing substantially to the escalating costs of health care. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that CVDs are the leading cause of death globally, taking an estimated 17.9 million lives each year with over 75% of […]
The Crucial Role of the Private Sector in Strengthening Medicines Regulation for Effective Public Health Response in Africa

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the forefront the urgent need for equitable access to quality healthcare products across Africa, highlighting the necessity of fortifying medicines regulation on the continent. Effective medicines regulation plays a pivotal role in safeguarding public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and quality of healthcare products. In the context of […]
Saving Lives: Revolutionizing Neonatal Health in Ethiopia. Combating neonatal mortality with private sector solutions

Ethiopia, located in Sub-Saharan Africa, faces significant challenges in improving neonatal health and reducing mortality rates among newborns. Despite commendable progress in neonatal care over the past two decades, the region still grapples with a high neonatal mortality rate of approximately 27 deaths per 1,000 live births recorded in 2020.[1] This rate is tenfold higher […]
Defining the Private Sector Cascade in the Healthcare Ecosystem

The Africa Health Business (AHB) Symposium – a pan-African conference at the heart of the African healthcare scene – convened on 29 and 30 June in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Symposium assembled African healthcare leaders to discuss solutions that will harness and combat new and existing public health challenges towards attaining the Africa CDC’s New […]
Key Principles for Realising a New Public Health Order for Africa

The challenge of equitable access to healthcare The challenge of equitable access to healthcare, including medicines and vaccines, in Africa is one that has rightly captured the attention of many for decades. Access to quality healthcare has a direct correlation with economic growth and development as well as productivity rates, and the absence thereof, at […]
An Enabling Environment for Local Production of Vaccines, Therapeutics and Diagnostics in Africa

One of the goals of Agenda 2063 of the African Union is “healthy and well-nourished citizens”, aspiring to the health and well-being of Africans. [1] In this regard, Africa CDC has launched Africa’s New Public Health Order [2] with a focus on five core pillars, namely: Strengthen African institutions for public health Expand manufacturing of […]
Healthcare Challenges and Trends in Africa Bring Opportunities for Innovation to Improve Health

Africa is the second largest continent by population size, home to over 16% of the world’s population. For years, the continent has experienced healthcare infrastructure challenges, including too few doctors or specialists, with only 0.2 physicians for every 1 000 people, equivalent to 1/10th of the available doctors elsewhere in the world. This has a negative […]