Africa Health Security Index Reveals Progress But Preparedness Gaps Persist

By Jean-Pierre A. Africa’s Health Security Capacity Has Improved, but No Country is Adequately Prepared and Biosecurity and Biosafety Remain Critically Low. New Africa Health Security Index reveals how rising threats and health emergencies, including Central Africa’s current Ebola outbreak, could erode progress A new Africa Health Security (AHS) Index, released this week against the backdrop of a devastating Ebola disease outbreak, reveals significant gaps in critical health infrastructure despite important progress in health security capacity in recent years. The AHS Index spotlights how African governments and partner investments in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic have paid off. The continent is nearly 30 percent more prepared than it was five years ago, according to the Index, yet an average score of only 41.5 out of 100 reveals gaps that could allow crises to become catastrophes at a time when threats and risk factors continue to escalate.