Planning for improved health-care capacity and better preparedness and responses to epidemics in Africa November 2022

Abstract

Epidemics and diseases have always been part of human history. However, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has highlighted the importance of effective containment measures and strong health systems in mitigating the potentially devastating socioeconomic impact of epidemics and life-threatening diseases on States. In Africa, given the high burden of disease and the weak and underfunded health systems, it is vital that efforts to strengthen health systems and develop epidemic preparedness and response plans be prioritized and embedded within the broader development planning architecture.