Public health in Africa: Assuring health security for all

COVID-19 exposed weaknesses in health systems the world over—not least in Africa, which was already burdened with poor health outcomes due to the high prevalence of communicable diseases, among other development challenges. Not all was lost, however: the crisis also presented an opportunity for African policymakers to rebuild their health systems with new insights gained from the response to this once-in-a-generation pandemic.

On May 16, as part of the Foresight Africa event series, the Brookings Africa Growth Initiative hosted an online public event to discuss the lessons learned from Africa’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Panelists explored the opportunities and challenges faced in formulating policies to build a more resilient health care system, so as to safeguard the health and the socio-economic wellbeing of the continent. 

The discussion was centered on the chapter in this year’s Foresight Africa report, titled “Health: Assuring health security for all,” which outlines strategies for financing the health sector, boosting pharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturing, empowering frontline workers, ending HIV/AIDS, and improving mental health, among other topics.

After the program,  panelists took audience questions. Viewers submitted questions for the virtual panel by emailing events@brookings.edu and via Twitter @BrookingsGlobal by using #ForesightHealth.