(MENAFN) Rwanda, together with international health partners, unveiled a groundbreaking initiative Tuesday aimed at enhancing Africa’s ability to prepare for and respond to pandemics by addressing critical operational and coordination deficiencies.

The Africa Health Security Accelerator (AHSA) was officially introduced in Kigali, Rwanda’s capital, marking a continent-wide appeal to develop robust health systems that safeguard lives and secure Africa’s future. “Our greatest strength lies in collaboration,” stated Claude Muvunyi Mambo, director general of the Rwanda Biomedical Center.

Despite accounting for nearly 30% of global epidemic threats, Africa continues to grapple with fragmented surveillance networks, isolated preparedness efforts, and a severe shortage of health workers equipped for epidemic response, officials noted.

Recent disease outbreaks have underscored persistent vulnerabilities in the continent’s capacity to prevent, detect quickly, and respond effectively to health emergencies.

The AHSA initiative aims to close these gaps through sovereign leadership, enhanced regional cooperation, and the deployment of advanced technologies, including AI-powered analytics, genomic surveillance, and innovative funding mechanisms, according to organizers.

Dr. Merawi Aragaw, head of Surveillance and Disease Intelligence at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), emphasized the need for proactive innovation, warning that “disasters should not be the accelerator for improving the continent’s health security architecture,” adding, “rather we need to create an environment for incubation of thoughts and innovations.”

As Africa builds stronger defenses against health crises, the Africa Health Security Accelerator represents a decisive move toward a unified, tech-driven, and sustainable health security framework, officials confirmed.

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