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In the research article “The COVID-19 pandemic: A focusing event to promote domestic investment for health systems strengthening in the WHO African Region,” published in SSM-Health Systems, authors Alison T. Mhazo, Arush Lal, and Elias Mossialos examine the COVID-19 pandemic’s role as a “focusing event” in prompting political attention and action toward health systems strengthening (HSS) in the WHO African Region. Utilizing John Kingdon’s framework, the study explores whether the pandemic generated sustained political momentum for HSS policies and implementation. It reveals how COVID-19’s unprecedented challenges forced policymakers to confront health system weaknesses firsthand, a shift that holds potential to drive lasting investment in regional health resilience. The authors conclude by suggesting that barriers to domestic HSS investment extend beyond financial constraints, highlighting the role of policymakers’ personal experiences and the insulation of elites from healthcare inadequacies.