EBERE OKEREKE WARNS U.S. AMERICA FIRST HEALTH STRATEGY UNDERMINES AFRICA’S HEALTH SOVEREIGNTY

Africa urged to unite and protect its health future amid shifting global aid dynamics.

Ebere Okereke of the Tony Blair Institute cautions that the new U.S. America First Global Health Strategy risks weakening Africa’s health sovereignty by prioritizing U.S. interests over continental goals. She critiques the strategy’s blame on African inefficiency, ignoring donor-driven dependency, and warns that U.S. led surveillance and funding conditions could stifle African initiatives like the African Medicines Agency.

Okereke calls on African leaders to strategically negotiate as a bloc, boost domestic health funding, and safeguard local manufacturing to ensure partnerships serve Africa’s priorities not geopolitical rivalries.