Development Today article calls for a radical rethinking of foreign aid, moving away from perpetual dependency towards empowering African nations to control and finance their own health agendas.
The current global health institutions and aid systems are fundamentally flawed and unsustainable. These institutions, largely controlled by a few wealthy countries and private foundations, are designed with no end date and perpetuate a cycle of dependency and control rather than fostering true independence and sustainable development in Africa. The authors, Olusoji Adeyi of Johns Hopkins and Justice Nonvignon of African CDC, argue for a fundamental shift in how global health financing is approached, proposing that:
- Global Health Initiatives (GHIs) should have set termination dates, particularly beyond the 2030 target for Universal Health Coverage.
- There should be a transparent transition process to end routine donor financing for health programs in Africa.
- Investments should be made in Africa’s capacity for self-reliance, including manufacturing diagnostics, vaccines, therapeutics, and supporting African research institutions.
- Regional efforts, such as the Africa Epidemics Fund, should be prioritised over new funds based in Western countries.
- African leaders must take responsibility for their countries’ health systems and work towards true independence from donor aid.
