Measuring capacities to advance global health security and bioeconomic development on the African continent
OBJECTIVES: This descriptive analysis aims to examine the current state of health security on the African continent to understand areas where improvements have been made, where gaps remain, and where future priorities can be identified. DESIGN: We analyzed the health security capacities of 54 African countries using data abstracted from the Global Health Security Index (versions 2019 and 2021) and Joint External Evaluation reports published since 2021. RESULTS: The continent's health security strengths include a high level of commitment to improving health security. In addition, between 2019 and 2021 African countries improved their epidemiology workforce and developed plans for the implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions. Despite this progress, gaps remain especially in areas of biosecurity, biosafety, and oversight of dual-use research of concern. CONCLUSIONS: Continuing to build on improvements to health security capacities on the African continent is crucial to safeguarding economic and development achievements. Investing in health security capacities will not only strengthen preparedness for a variety of health hazards and risks, it will also stimulate the continent's emerging bioeconomy. Improving capacities to prepare for and respond to health security threats on the African continent benefits both the continent and the rest of the world.
Authors
- Augustin Mouinga Ondeme
- Peter Ahabwe Babigumira (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3246-4929)
- Lizeka Amanda Tandwa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2466-3090)
- Talkmore Maruta (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1429-5041)
- Hayley Anne Severance
- Chinwe Lucia Ochu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0630-7332)
- Jennifer B. Nuzzo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7137-6625)
- Margaret M. Dunne (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0664-8954)
- Judy Omumbo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9475-9346)
- Rym Benkhalifa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6944-481X)
- Tolbert Nyenswah
- Samira Senouci
- Nathan A. Paxton (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7602-2842)
- Geoffrey Namara
- Diane Meyer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4467-9169)
- Donewell Bangure
- Issa Makumbi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3579-2485)
- Ian Peter Busuulwa
- Joseph Bitilinyu-Bangoh
- Elizabeth E. Cameron
- Ali Asy
- Jaures Noumedem
- Christopher R. Isaac
- Yenew Kebede
- Donald Ibe Ofili
- Jaime M. Yassif
- Zibusiso Masuku
- Natalie Mayet
- Elly Vaughan
- Carly Gasca
- Wilmot James
- Paul Okwalinga
Institutions
- National Health Laboratory Service (ZA)
- World Health Organization - Pakistan (PK)
- Milken Institute (US)
- Johns Hopkins University (US)
- University of the Witwatersrand (ZA)
- Brown University (US)
- Nuclear Threat Initiative (US)
- Public Health Institute of Malawi (MW)
- Ministry of Health (UG)
- Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (ET)
- Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (NG)
- Animal Health Institute (US)
- African Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology (ZW)
- Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville (GA)
- Moroccan Foundation for Advanced Science, Innovation and Research (MA)
- Africa Mental Health Foundation (KE)
- Institut Pasteur de Tunis (TN)
- Animal Health Research Institute (TW)
- Joint Clinical Research Centre (UG)
- Organisation Mondiale de la Santé Animale (FR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- International Journal of Infectious Diseases
- Published
- 2026-04-07
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2026.108675
- Primary Topic
- Global Health and Surgery
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00