ECA urges African leaders to prioritise health sovereignty

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa has urged African leaders to prioritise health sovereignty as a core economic strategy to reduce reliance on external aid.
The executive secretary of ECA, Claver Gatete, said this in a statement on the commission’s website.
Mr Gatete made the call while speaking at a high-level side event during the 2026 African Union Summit of Heads of State and Government.
He said the global order was shifting from hyper-globalisation to what he described as “strategic resilience”, where nations prioritise critical sectors such as food, energy and health.
“Health is no longer a social service; it is a strategic economic sector. Health security is national security,” he said.
The ECA chief noted that development assistance for health had declined sharply from about $80 billion in 2021 to $39 billion in 2025.
He said that Africa’s reliance on external financing and imported medical supplies exposed it to price shocks and supply disruptions.
According to him, although Africa spends approximately $145 billion annually on health, less than half comes from public budgets, leaving households to shoulder high out-of-pocket expenses.
“The consequences of inadequate and unpredictable financing are not only social but also macroeconomic. If the effects are economic, the response must also be economic,” he said.
Mr Gatete outlined four priorities to strengthen Africa’s health sovereignty, including integrating health into medium-term fiscal frameworks and mobilising domestic resources through innovative financing.
He said others include developing pharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturing using AfCFTA-enabled regional value chains and strengthening health delivery systems.
The ECA boss said that ECA was supporting governments to align health investments with macro-fiscal planning and industrial development.
Mr Gatete said this included a new partnership with the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation to be launched at the upcoming ECA Conference of Ministers in March.
“The choices we make now will determine whether Africa remains a consumer in the global health system or becomes a producer within it. Health sovereignty is, ultimately, economic sovereignty,” Mr Gatete said.
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette

Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Diaspora
Police dog exposes Nigerian traveller with hidden guinea fowl, goat meat package at Canada airport
Authorities stated that both the food and meat products sniffed out by the dog weighed 37 kilogrammes

Hot news Home top
Police hunt Anambra teacher for allegedly flogging pupil to death
Mr Ikenga said that the incident occurred on July 16 in the Adazi-Ani Anaocha Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

Heading 4
Six alleged Nigerian fraudsters targeting UK citizens arrested over online fraud
The suspects, aged between 20 and 34, were arrested in Asaba, Delta State, on July 4.

World
Mother of Henry Nowak’s killer jailed for removing weapon from murder scene
Mr Digwa was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years for Mr Nowak’s murder.

Hot news Home top
Two Anambra men to die by hanging for raping teenage girl to death
The prosecution counsel said the victim was rushed to a hospital on police instruction but was confirmed dead on arrival.

Economy
Naira ends week stronger with 0.9% gain against dollar at official market
Data published on Friday by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) showed the local currency gained N1.34 compared with Thursday’s closing rate of N1,381.52 per dollar.





