Health services in Africa are at risk of collapsing in the next few years due to a rise in chronic diseases, according to Dr Githinji Gitahi, group CEO of Amref Health Africa. The focus of foreign aid to Africa has been on infectious diseases, resulting in insufficient attention and funding for conditions like cancer and diabetes. In sub-Saharan Africa, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) accounted for 37% of deaths in 2019, up from 24% in 2000. These diseases are expected to become the leading cause of death in the region by 2030 due to factors such as unhealthy western-style diets, less active lifestyles, and air pollution. Dr Gitahi emphasized that foreign aid should not be seen as charity but as a strategic investment by donor countries to protect their own interests. He called on African leaders to take responsibility for controlling NCDs and called for the implementation of policies to regulate unhealthy practices by multinational corporations. He also highlighted the impact of US funding cuts on Amref’s work and the need for African governments to become more efficient and tackle corruption. According to Dr Gitahi, African governments will not be able to replace lost funding and may need to reframe goals to prioritize universal health care for the most vulnerable populations. He argued that global security is at risk if weak health systems exist in any country.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2025/feb/27/africas-medical-system-risks-collapse-in-next-few-years-warns-health-leader