Africa CDC calls for increased investment in pharmaceutical production for maternal and child health
The Africa CDC is urging African nations to increase local investment in pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing. Currently, the continent relies on imports for 70 percent of its essential health products, which hampers the resilience of local healthcare systems.
Why it matters
Reducing dependence on external medical supplies is vital for improving maternal and child health outcomes across the African continent.
ARUSHA: THE Head of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Prof. Diana Nsubuga, has called on African countries to increase investment in pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing to help reduce maternal and child deaths.
Speaking on Thursday, October 8, 2026, during a panel discussion on maternal and child health involving parliamentarians from the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Arusha, Prof. Nsubuga said increased investment would help reduce Africa’s dependence on imported essential health products.
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