Addis ababa: African health ministers, development partners, and leaders from the African Union and regional health institutions have committed to a renewed agenda focused on accelerating the elimination of multiple diseases across the continent. This commitment was made during a high-level ministerial side event held alongside the Seventy-sixth session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa, where the leaders endorsed the Addis Ababa Call to Action on Protecting and Accelerating Multi-Disease Elimination in Africa. The initiative aims to enhance country ownership, increase domestic investment in health, and strengthen resilient health systems capable of addressing various public health challenges.
According to African Press Organization, the meeting took place at a crucial time when the region is making significant progress in disease elimination and control. Over the past decade, there has been noteworthy advancement in the elimination of neglected tropical diseases. For instance, leprosy has been nearly eradicated as a public health concern, with only one country yet to meet the elimination target. Moreover, 41 African countries have been certified free of Guinea worm disease, a debilitating parasitic infection. In 2025 alone, Burundi, Mauritania, and Senegal eliminated trachoma; Niger became the first African nation to eliminate river blindness; and Guinea and Kenya successfully eradicated sleeping sickness. Additionally, Botswana achieved gold tier status in eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, while Cabo Verde, Mauritius, and Seychelles eliminated measles and rubella.
Dr. Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa, emphasized the substantial progress made towards multiple disease elimination goals, attributing these achievements to sustained political commitment, robust health systems, and effective partnerships. He stressed the importance of maintaining these gains, increasing investment, and pushing further to achieve the goals.
The Addis Ababa Call to Action highlighted the need for integrated approaches that strengthen primary health care and deliver results across multiple disease programs. Partners reaffirmed their commitment to supporting country-led elimination efforts and emphasized the necessity of continued collaboration to sustain and expand recent achievements, benefiting more communities across the region.
Participants also recognized ongoing challenges such as funding constraints, limited integration of disease programs into national health systems, weak diagnostic and data management capacity, and insecurity in some countries. They noted that these issues could potentially reverse hard-won gains if not addressed through coordinated action and sustained investment.
WHO pledged its continued commitment to working with Member States, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, and partners to provide technical support, foster partnerships, and monitor progress towards elimination targets.
Colonel-Major Dr. Garba Hakimi, Minister of Public Health, Population and Social Affairs, Niger, expressed the collective determination of the region to protect hard-won gains and prioritize elimination efforts. By strengthening country leadership and investing in resilient health systems, he emphasized that progress could be accelerated to improve the health and well-being of millions across the region.