Africa: A Silent Health Crisis as Aid Plummets

Editorial : Fatima Babadin

Africa is facing a growing health emergency, as international aid has dropped by 70% between 2021 and 2025. This sharp decline in Official Development Assistance (ODA) is exacerbating the already fragile health systems across the continent. Many nations are struggling to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, with overstretched healthcare workers, insufficient infrastructure, and increasing rates of both infectious and chronic diseases. Clinics are closing, vaccination programs are slowing, and essential medicines are becoming harder to obtain.

The reduction in health aid threatens not only disease prevention and treatment but also broader development goals. Without sufficient funding, millions of Africans are left more vulnerable than ever, and the progress made over decades is at risk of being undone. While some countries are attempting to fill the gap with domestic resources and private partnerships, the scale of the challenge is overwhelming. Global leaders must prioritize Africa’s health to safeguard both regional and global health security.