The silent pandemic you can't ignore

We’re facing a really tough mix of health problems across Africa right now. And to make things worse, the medicines we usually count on are not working as well anymore. This situation shows the urgent need to improve our own ability to understand and deal with the health challenges we face.

Our healthcare workers are fighting blind, lacking the critical tools to diagnose and treat diseases. Relying on a fragile global supply chain, exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, leaves Africa lagging behind, with consequences measured in lives lost and potential squandered.

“African governments and healthcare institutions must prioritise procuring and utilising their own products.”

Africa’s population will double by 2050. When this is considered alongside the effects of climate change, the increased risk of disease outbreaks is clear. So, in this rapidly evolving situation, developing local diagnostic resources is not merely a matter of keeping things going but a matter of survival.

COVID showed Africa’s reliance on imported rapid antigen tests and PCR reagents. When everyone was scrambling for tests during COVID, Africa got pushed to the side, plain and simple. And then, just to rub it in, the companies making the CD4 point-of-care tests for HIV recently pulled out, leaving millions without a way to know their condition. It’s a real mess, and it shows how weak our situation is.

But this is not a story of despair. It’s a call to action, a rallying cry for a paradigm shift. The time has come to reimagine Africa’s diagnostic landscape, to forge a path towards self-sufficiency that will not only safeguard public health but also ignite economic growth.

Seriously, why are we still shipping in basic tests for things like HIV and malaria from overseas? It’s bleeding our economies dry, and it’s just keeping us stuck. Companies like MAScIR in Morocco, Medical Diagnostech in South Africa, and Revital Healthcare in Kenya have proven that Africa possesses the capacity to manufacture high-quality diagnostics.

To really make this work, we need to build a solid system that helps local manufacturers. African governments and healthcare institutions must prioritise procuring and utilising their own products. This is not about isolationism; it’s about building resilience, about creating a foundation for future innovation in diagnostic technologies tailored to the African climate and disease burden.

The African Union’s Agenda 2063, with its vision of a prosperous and integrated continent, provides the perfect framework for this transformation. The Africa CDC, along with the African Medicines Agency, must lead efforts to harmonise regulatory structures for the approval and distribution of diagnostic tests, create an “African waiver diagnostic list,” and set up strong supply chain systems across the continent, with a focus on cold chain logistics and timely distribution.

The partnership between the Global Fund, UNITAID, and PEPFAR for HIV RDT manufacturing is a bright spot. The pilot expert review panel was a step forward. But this push must be kept going, and grown to include other critical disease areas.

Governments must prioritise investments in diagnostics as strategic and trade priorities. Innovative financing mechanisms, public-private partnerships, and the removal of import duties on raw materials are essential to nurturing emerging manufacturers.

You know, one good thing that came out of the COVID mess was seeing how well public and private labs could work together. Leveraging the expertise of private laboratories in areas like laboratory management, digitisation, and logistics can significantly enhance the capacity of public health systems.

Bridging the gap between research and development and commercialisation is critical. Universities like Witwatersrand and Stellenbosch, with their subsidiaries, are leading the way in developing and commercialising diagnostic technologies.

Africa’s greatest asset is its people. The continent boasts a growing pool of highly skilled laboratory professionals and a network of accredited laboratories. Organisations are facilitating collaboration and knowledge sharing for a diagnostic ecosystem.

Initiatives like the Global Frugal Diagnostic Network, which focuses on developing low-cost, point-of-care diagnostics, and the Africa Collaborative Initiative to Advance Diagnostics (AFCAD), which works to strengthen diagnostic capacity through training and infrastructure development, are also playing a vital role in promoting innovation in rapid testing technologies and equitable access to diagnostics in rural communities.

However, true self-sufficiency requires a holistic approach. Community-based organisations must be empowered to advocate for equitable access to laboratory services and to contribute to the development of culturally relevant diagnostic solutions. Politicians, as key decision-makers, must be actively engaged in this transformation.

The quest for diagnostic self-sufficiency is not about closing ourselves off from the world. It’s about building a stronger, more resilient Africa, capable of safeguarding the health and well-being of its people. It’s about seizing the opportunity to transform a crisis into a catalyst for economic growth and innovation.

The challenges are immense, but the potential rewards are far greater. Africa must engage actively, boldly, and collectively to forge a future where diagnostics are not a luxury but a fundamental right, ensuring a healthier and more prosperous continent for generations to come.

Ota Akhigbe is the Director of Partnerships and Programs at eHealth Africa. She specialises in building strategic alliances and driving innovative programs to address critical challenges in Africa.