Angola has called on African nations to accelerate local vaccine and medicine production, as cholera ravages several countries across the continent.
Speaking during a virtual summit with African leaders and WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Angolan President Joao Lourenço stressed the need for health sovereignty.
“Total dependence on external imports limits our ability to respond and compromises our health sovereignty,” Lourenço warned, urging immediate investment in domestic pharmaceutical capacity.
Angola, which currently holds the African Union chair, is battling a severe cholera outbreak with over 24,500 cases and 718 deaths recorded as of June 2.
Neighboring countries, including Sudan, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, are also grappling with major outbreaks, exacerbating regional health concerns.
A recent African CDC report revealed that more than 90 percent of medical supplies used in Africa are imported, leaving the continent exposed to global supply shocks.
The report noted that Africa’s reliance on foreign health products proved catastrophic during past crises such as Covid-19, Ebola, Marburg, and mpox.
It warned that international trade disruptions and geopolitical instability have delayed critical supplies during emergencies.
Public health emergencies in Africa have surged, rising from 152 in 2022 to 213 in 2024, according to the same report.
Lourenço emphasized that local vaccine and drug production is not only a response to cholera, but a long-term strategy for resilience.
With cholera deaths climbing and infrastructure strained, the call to action echoes with urgency across a continent confronting recurring health threats.
