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The Chairman of the Pan-African Parliament’s Committee on Health, Labour and Social Affairs, and Ghana’s Minority Chief Whip, Hon. Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has called for urgent continental action to strengthen Africa’s health security as the continent battles one of its fastest-growing Ebola outbreaks. Speaking during the First Ordinary Session of the Seventh Pan-African Parliament in Midrand, South Africa, he presented a report and accompanying resolutions aimed at improving Africa’s preparedness against future public health emergencies.
Hon. Annoh-Dompreh told the Pan-African Parliament that although Uganda has made significant progress in containing the Ebola outbreak and has entered the internationally recognised 42-day countdown towards declaring the outbreak over following the discharge of its last confirmed patient on July 16, 2026, the continued transmission of the disease in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo remains a major threat to neighbouring countries.
He noted that the outbreak involves a strain of the Ebola virus for which there is currently no licensed vaccine or approved treatment, making rapid disease surveillance, laboratory testing, early isolation of patients, quality clinical care, infection prevention, contact tracing and community engagement essential to controlling its spread.
According to the report presented by the Committee, the outbreak has resulted in 969 deaths, representing a case fatality rate of nearly 40 per cent, while 487 patients have recovered. Africa CDC has described it as the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak ever recorded at a similar stage.
Hon. Annoh-Dompreh said consultations between the Committee and the World Health Organization reaffirmed that the WHO’s Public Health Emergency of International Concern and the Africa CDC’s Public Health Emergency of Continental Security are complementary mechanisms designed to ensure a coordinated global and continental response to disease outbreaks.
The Committee is therefore urging African Union Member States to strengthen disease surveillance systems, improve emergency preparedness, invest in health infrastructure, protect frontline healthcare workers with adequate personal protective equipment and training, and enhance cross-border collaboration to respond effectively to future health emergencies.
The report forms part of the Pan-African Parliament’s broader Health Security and Sovereignty Agenda, which seeks to strengthen domestic health systems, increase local health financing and reduce Africa’s dependence on external support during public health crises.
The Pan-African Parliament is expected to consider and adopt the Committee’s recommendations as part of wider efforts to strengthen Africa’s public health systems and improve the continent’s preparedness for future pandemics.
Hon. Frank Annoh-Dompreh says coordinated action, stronger legislation and sustained investment in healthcare remain critical to protecting the lives of millions of Africans.
- Reported by Joseph Amoateng(0539102713)
The Chairman of the Pan-African Parliament’s Committee on Health, Labour and Social Affairs, and Ghana’s Minority Chief Whip, Hon. Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has called for urgent continental action to strengthen Africa’s health security as the continent battles one of its fastest-growing Ebola outbreaks. Speaking during the First Ordinary Session of the Seventh Pan-African Parliament in Midrand, South Africa, he presented a report and accompanying resolutions aimed at improving Africa’s preparedness against future public health emergencies.
Hon. Annoh-Dompreh told the Pan-African Parliament that although Uganda has made significant progress in containing the Ebola outbreak and has entered the internationally recognised 42-day countdown towards declaring the outbreak over following the discharge of its last confirmed patient on July 16, 2026, the continued transmission of the disease in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo remains a major threat to neighbouring countries.
He noted that the outbreak involves a strain of the Ebola virus for which there is currently no licensed vaccine or approved treatment, making rapid disease surveillance, laboratory testing, early isolation of patients, quality clinical care, infection prevention, contact tracing and community engagement essential to controlling its spread.
According to the report presented by the Committee, the outbreak has resulted in 969 deaths, representing a case fatality rate of nearly 40 per cent, while 487 patients have recovered. Africa CDC has described it as the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak ever recorded at a similar stage.
Hon. Annoh-Dompreh said consultations between the Committee and the World Health Organization reaffirmed that the WHO’s Public Health Emergency of International Concern and the Africa CDC’s Public Health Emergency of Continental Security are complementary mechanisms designed to ensure a coordinated global and continental response to disease outbreaks.
The Committee is therefore urging African Union Member States to strengthen disease surveillance systems, improve emergency preparedness, invest in health infrastructure, protect frontline healthcare workers with adequate personal protective equipment and training, and enhance cross-border collaboration to respond effectively to future health emergencies.
The report forms part of the Pan-African Parliament’s broader Health Security and Sovereignty Agenda, which seeks to strengthen domestic health systems, increase local health financing and reduce Africa’s dependence on external support during public health crises.
The Pan-African Parliament is expected to consider and adopt the Committee’s recommendations as part of wider efforts to strengthen Africa’s public health systems and improve the continent’s preparedness for future pandemics.
Hon. Frank Annoh-Dompreh says coordinated action, stronger legislation and sustained investment in healthcare remain critical to protecting the lives of millions of Africans.
Reported by Joseph Amoateng(0539102713)
