The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa-CDC) say nearly 40 per cent of health resources in Africa were being lost to inefficiency and poor governance.

The Director for Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response, Africa-CDC, Tolbert Nyenswah, made the disclosure ion Thursday during its weekly high-level regional press briefing

Mr Nyenswah said that the situation could, however, be reversed to unlock billions of dollars without additional funding.

He stressed that strengthening governance, improving efficiency, and ensuring accountable public financial management were critical to transforming Africa’s health systems.

“Fixing these inefficiencies is not just about more money; it is about smarter use of existing resources,” he said.

He said that countries could redirect billions into essential services without increasing budgets.

The briefing also highlighted progress in some countries, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is moving toward allocating 14.5 per cent of its national budget to health, a target set by the “Abuja Declaration.”

He noted that a growing number of public health events were linked to climate and environmental factors, adding that challenges such as antimicrobial resistance (AMR) were putting additional pressure on already stretched health systems.

He said that to tackle the threats, the continental agency had secured over $250 million in strategic investments, including funding from the EU, Global Fund, and Pandemic Fund, aimed at strengthening One Health initiatives, climate-resilient systems, and pandemic preparedness.

He called on African governments to prioritise efficiency and governance reforms, warning that without action, the continent’s health goals would remain out of reach.

(NAN)