Written By : Faith Jemosop
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) have jointly launched two transformative policy frameworks: the Zoonotic Disease Prevention and Control Strategy (2025–2030) and the Climate Change and Health Strategic Framework (2025–2029).
These two regional strategies operationalize the One Health approach, a globally endorsed model that integrates human, animal, and environmental health. Their launch marks a significant shift toward proactive health security in Africa, particularly in the face of rising zoonotic spillovers, climate-driven outbreaks, and urbanization-linked vulnerabilities.
“These strategies are not just policy documents. They are roadmaps to safeguard the health of our people, our animals, and our ecosystems,” said Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, during the announcement in Addis Ababa.
What the Strategies Aim to Achieve
1. Zoonotic Disease Prevention and Control Strategy (2025–2030)
This strategy focuses on reducing the risk, occurrence, and impact of zoonotic diseases illnesses that are transmitted between animals and humans, such as Ebola, COVID-19, Rift Valley Fever, and Lassa Fever.
Key objectives include:
- Strengthening early detection systems at the animal-human interface.
- Establishing cross-sectoral surveillance networks.
- Enhancing capacity building among veterinarians, public health officials, and environmental scientists.
- Promoting community-level awareness on zoonotic transmission risks.
2. Climate Change and Health Strategic Framework (2025–2029)
This framework addresses the growing intersection between climate change and public health. With Africa projected to suffer disproportionately from climate impacts , including rising temperatures, droughts, and floods , the framework aims to:
- Build climate-resilient health systems.
- Improve data-driven forecasting of climate-sensitive disease outbreaks.
- Integrate climate risk into national health planning.
- Mobilize domestic and international climate-health financing.
Africa’s Rising Health Threats
Africa has seen a surge in zoonotic disease outbreaks in recent years. Between 2001 and 2022, over 500 new zoonotic outbreaks were recorded on the continent. The emergence of COVID-19 served as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by diseases originating from wildlife or livestock.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 75% of emerging infectious diseases globally are zoonotic and the trend is especially pronounced in sub-Saharan Africa, where human-wildlife contact is high due to deforestation, agriculture expansion, and illegal bushmeat trade.
A Multiplier of Disease Burdens
Africa contributes less than 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions but suffers some of the worst consequences. Climate change is now accelerating the spread of vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, and chikungunya, expanding their reach into previously unaffected regions.
Heatwaves, flooding, and food insecurity are also straining fragile health systems. The IPCC Sixth Assessment Report warns that by 2050, climate change could cause an additional 250,000 deaths per year globally with Africa disproportionately affected.
The One Health approach has long been recognized by organizations like WHO, FAO, and OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) as the gold standard for managing interconnected health risks. However, translating theory into practice has proven difficult due to fragmentation between sectors and weak governance structures.
Africa CDC and AU-IBAR’s dual frameworks are a practical attempt to close that gap. By building joint surveillance networks, training cross-sector personnel, and integrating climate modelling into health planning, they lay the foundation for:
- Early warning systems for zoonotic spill overs.
- Coordinated outbreak response mechanisms.
- Joint research and knowledge-sharing platforms.
These strategies also align with the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) and Africa’s Agenda 2063, signalling Africa’s commitment to becoming a leader in health innovation and resilience.
What’s Next for Member States
Africa CDC is urging African Union Member States to adopt, domesticate, and implement the two frameworks within national health and climate policies. It also calls for:
- Increased domestic investment in health-environment integration.
- Donor and partner alignment with One Health goals.
- Establishment of multi-stakeholder task forces in each country.
To support this, Africa CDC and AU-IBAR plan to roll out:
- Regional and national training workshops.
- Development of One Health coordination platforms.
- Strengthening of laboratory networks and mobile response units.
“If we invest now in prevention, we’ll save billions in emergency responses later. Prevention is not just cheaper, it saves lives,” said Dr. Nick Nwankpa, Director of AU-IBAR.
Also read: How Africa’s Youth Are Leading the Fight Against Climate Change
While the strategies are laudable, financing remains a hurdle. According to UNEP, implementing One Health approaches globally could cost between $10.3–$11.5 billion per year but this is just a fraction of the estimated $100 billion lost annually due to pandemics.
In Africa, countries are already grappling with constrained health budgets, debt burdens, and donor fatigue. Experts suggest the AU must:
- Push for climate-health financing through the Green Climate Fund and other mechanisms.
- Leverage public-private partnerships.
- Enhance domestic revenue mobilization to sustain long-term programs.
