KIGALI, Rwanda

Rwanda and global health partners launched a new initiative Tuesday aimed at strengthening the African continent’s pandemic preparedness and response by closing operational and coordination gaps.

Launched in Rwanda’s capital Kigali, the initiative, dubbed the Africa Health Security Accelerator (AHSA), is a continental call to action to build resilient systems that protect lives and secure the continent’s future, according to Claude Muvunyi Mambo, the director general of the Rwanda Biomedical Center.

Africa bears nearly 30% of the world’s epidemic threats, according to health officials, yet continues to face challenges including siloed preparedness efforts, fragmented surveillance systems and a critical shortage of epidemic-ready health workers.

Recent outbreaks have shown that despite progress, significant gaps remain in the ability to prevent, rapidly detect and respond to health threats.

The Africa Health Security Accelerator will address these gaps through sovereign leadership, regional collaboration and the integration of cutting-edge technologies such as AI-driven analytics, genomic surveillance and innovative funding models, according to officials.

“Our greatest strength lies in collaboration,” said Mambo.

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

As Africa strengthens its capacity to prevent and respond to health threats, the Africa Health Security Accelerator stands as a bold step toward a coordinated, technology-driven and self-sustaining health security ecosystem, officials said.