Africa: Let Accra's AU Health Summit Be Remembered for Action

What the report says

AllAfrica published a guest column on 23 July 2026 by Botswana President Advocate Duma Gideon Boko, who also chairs the African Leaders Malaria Alliance, urging African governments to use the African Union Extraordinary Summit on Health in Accra as a turning point for implementation rather than another round of pledges. Boko said the AU Roadmap to 2030 and Beyond already provides a health agenda, and argued that the priority now is sustainable financing, accountability and delivery of services that patients can experience directly.

The column warned that malaria progress has slowed amid drug and insecticide resistance, climate pressures, population growth and shrinking funds. It cited a 70% decline in external health aid to Africa between 2021 and 2025 and noted that recent replenishments for the Global Fund and Gavi did not meet targets. Boko wrote that Africa should increase domestic health investment while still seeking transitional support from global partners, including through World Bank health compacts.

Boko highlighted examples he said show momentum, including higher domestic malaria funding in Nigeria, Benin, Zambia and Ethiopia, and National End Malaria Councils and Funds operating in 12 countries that have raised more than US$228 million. He called for wider adoption of such mechanisms, including in Botswana, and for scorecard tools to track progress on malaria, neglected tropical diseases and maternal and child health.

The column also linked health financing to pandemic preparedness, local manufacturing and medicine access. It said many AU member states lack dependable access to essential medicines and that Africa imports up to 90% of its drugs, while pointing to a continental goal of producing at least 60% of health products within Africa. The core message was that Accra should be remembered for follow-through on existing commitments.