By Africa Science News Correspondent
Africa has made significant strides in strengthening its health security since the COVID-19 pandemic, but no country on the continent is adequately prepared to prevent, detect and respond to major disease outbreaks, according to the newly released Africa Health Security (AHS) Index.
The report, launched as Central Africa battles a devastating Ebola disease outbreak, shows that Africa’s overall preparedness has improved by nearly 30 percent over the past five years. However, the continent’s average score of just 41.5 out of 100 underscores persistent weaknesses that could allow localized disease outbreaks to escalate into regional or global health emergencies.
Developed by a coalition of African and international research institutions, public health experts and security specialists, the Africa Health Security Index assessed all 54 African countries using 190 indicators covering outbreak prevention, detection and response, health systems, governance, financing, political risk and commitment to international health standards.
The findings reveal encouraging progress across much of the continent. Fifty-two of Africa’s 54 countries improved their health security scores, with gains recorded across nearly every major category except the broader risk environment, where increasing climate-related threats, insecurity and governance challenges continue to undermine resilience.
Judith Omumbo, Head of Partnerships and Resource Mobilisation at the Science for Africa Foundation, said the Index provides African governments with an evidence-based tool for strengthening health security on the continent.
“The Africa Health Security Index is a game changer for an exceptionally diverse continent with wide differences in national incomes, climate, governance and social conditions. It measures our unique strengths and strategic opportunities and provides the evidence base for African-controlled health investments and policy decisions,” she said.
Omumbo added that the Index would help governments prioritize domestic investments while identifying opportunities for international collaboration, ensuring African countries take the lead in shaping global health security initiatives rather than merely responding to external agendas.
Despite the overall improvements, the report identifies biosecurity and biosafety as among Africa’s weakest areas of preparedness. The continent recorded an average biosecurity score of only 14.9 out of 100, while biosafety averaged 18.2. Capacity to manage dual-use biological research—a critical safeguard against accidental or deliberate misuse of pathogens—was particularly alarming, averaging just 1.9 out of 100.
Researchers note that while laboratory infrastructure has expanded rapidly across Africa, the systems needed to oversee safety, security and responsible biological research have failed to keep pace.
Dr. Wilmot James, Senior Adviser at the Brown University Pandemic Center, warned that the gains achieved in recent years remain fragile.
“The measurable increase in capacity is the result of dedication, hard work and investment in Africa’s health security over recent years, but much more is needed,” he said. “Substantial gaps remain that can mean the difference between a small outbreak and an international pandemic. Investments made today will determine Africa’s capacity to address the health threats of tomorrow.”
He cautioned that declining international development assistance makes it even more important for African governments to strengthen domestic financing for health emergency preparedness.
The Index also highlights substantial progress in disease surveillance. Fifty-three countries improved their biosurveillance capacity, with wastewater and environmental surveillance now operational in 52 countries and genomic sequencing capacity established in 48 countries. However, the maturity and effectiveness of these systems vary considerably across regions.
Capacity to develop vaccines, medicines and other medical countermeasures has also expanded significantly. The report found that African countries now score an average of 56.5 out of 100 for developing medical countermeasures, compared to only 20.7 for deploying them during health emergencies. While most countries have regulatory agencies capable of approving new vaccines and therapeutics, relatively few have emergency plans to manage supply surges during major outbreaks.
Climate-related health security has also improved, with countries strengthening water and sanitation systems while expanding surveillance and emergency response capacity for zoonotic diseases that can spread from animals to humans.
Regional collaboration has similarly advanced. Nearly every country now operates an Emergency Operations Centre, and the number of countries meeting recommended staffing levels for field epidemiologists has nearly doubled. However, only eight countries currently maintain comprehensive records of facilities handling dangerous pathogens, highlighting continuing vulnerabilities in biological risk management.
The report also raises concerns about financing for pandemic preparedness. National commitments have weakened slightly since previous assessments, with 18 countries showing no evidence of active financing commitments for health security, although seven countries have introduced new funding mechanisms.
Christine E. Wormuth, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Nuclear Threat Initiative, said the data demonstrate meaningful progress while underscoring the growing biological risks facing the continent.
“African governments have made measurable progress in health security capacity, and the data show it. Growing biological risks and a challenging security environment expose countries to outbreaks, accidents and deliberate threats. Strengthening public health is both a national and regional security priority,” she said.
Peter Babigumira Ahabwe, Chair of the expert advisory group behind the Index, emphasized the importance of reliable data in driving better policy decisions.
“Measuring health capacity matters because what gets measured gets done. The Africa Health Security Index equips policymakers with the data they need to act and will help countries understand and strengthen capacity across the region,” he said.
The report recommends a series of priority actions, including integrating biosecurity and biosafety into all preparedness investments, strengthening disease surveillance systems, improving deployment of vaccines and therapeutics, expanding water and sanitation infrastructure, enhancing cross-border cooperation and increasing domestic financing for pandemic preparedness.
Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo, Director of the Brown University Pandemic Center, said the new Index provides African governments with an important benchmark for tracking long-term progress.
“With multiple years of data, it helps countries identify gaps, track progress over time and gives donors and policymakers the evidence they need to prioritize investments and strengthen health systems,” she said.
As Africa continues to face recurring outbreaks of Ebola, cholera, mpox and other emerging infectious diseases, researchers say the Index offers a roadmap for governments to transform the hard lessons of COVID-19 into lasting investments that strengthen health systems before the next pandemic strikes.