At the Extraordinary Session of the Conference of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in Accra, Ghana, Cameroon delivered a bold message: healthcare must be treated as a strategic investment in continental sovereignty rather than a mere cost center.
Representing President Paul Biya at the summit on July 21, 2026, Minister of Public Health Dr. Manaouda Malachie presented a comprehensive roadmap designed to achieve true African health autonomy.
The Cameroonian delegation emphasized that empowering domestic healthcare systems across the continent is essential to meeting major developmental goals. Central to this vision is building the operational capacity required to eradicate HIV/AIDS by 2030, drastically reduce maternal mortality rates, and prepare African nations to absorb future epidemiological shocks without relying heavily on external intervention.
To illustrate this strategy, Dr. Manaouda Malachie outlined the core components of Cameroon’s national emergency preparedness framework. This model relies on robust real-time epidemiological surveillance, ongoing technical training for specialized personnel, the modernization of laboratory facilities to international standards, and a sustained increase in budget allocations specifically earmarked for endemic diseases and pandemic response.
Drawing on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, Cameroon urged member states to transition temporary crisis management mechanisms into permanent public health institutions.
Citing the success of its own Presidential Taskforce, the delegation highlighted the need to institutionalize emergency responses to guarantee long-term resilience, ensuring African nations maintain a continuous state of readiness for future health emergencies.
Through this high-level advocacy in Accra, Cameroon reinforces its role as a key player in regional health diplomacy. By pushing for institutional stability, strategic funding, and domestic capability, the nation continues to champion a self-reliant Africa fully equipped to safeguard the health and well-being of its population independently.
