Africa adopts unified health strategies to address climate and zoonotic crises

Africa has launched two strategies that will help in tackling the interlinked challenges of zoonotic disease and climate change that have been posing a significant and growing threat to the continent, with interconnected impacts on human, animal, and environmental health.

Launched on Monday, the One Health Zoonotic Disease Prevention and Control Strategy (2025–30) and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Strategic Framework on Climate Change and Health (2025–29) will guide coordinated action across sectors to strengthen disease surveillance, improve early warning systems, and build climate-resilient health systems.

Huyam Salih, director of African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources, which launched the strategies in partnership with Africa CDC, urged stakeholders to move from intention to implementation.

"Let us move beyond declarations—now is the time for united, cross-sectoral action. I call on all stakeholders to embrace the One Health Strategy as a continental imperative," he said.

"Together, we must forge a new era of health security, where animal, human, and environmental health, are protected as one. Africa's resilience depends on it, and our future demands it."

Raji Tajudeen, the acting deputy director general of the Africa CDC, said the frameworks are more than just strategy documents, describing them as Africa's collective commitment to safeguarding its people, ecosystems, and future.

"We must move from rhetoric to results. The time to act is now, and the responsibility rests with all of us," he said.

Mekdes Daba, Ethiopia's minister of health, emphasized on the interconnectedness of Africa's well-being, stressing that human, animal and environmental health are inseparable and must be addressed through unified, cross-sectoral action.

"Our health, ecosystems, and economies are deeply intertwined. We cannot protect one without investing in all. This is a call for action, not another declaration."

With over 75 percent of emerging human diseases originating from animals, and climate change exacerbating health risks, the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources, said the new strategies offer a roadmap to strengthen surveillance, improve early warning systems, and integrate public, animal, and environmental health responses.

The AU technical office said the frameworks serve as a rallying cry to governments, regional economic communities, donors, research institutions, and civil society organizations to come together under a shared vision.

"As the continent faces an increasingly uncertain health landscape, these strategies offer not just guidance, but hope—and demand decisive, coordinated action," it said.

Globally, climate change is projected to cause an additional 14.5 million deaths, over 2 billion healthy life years lost and $12.5 trillion in economic losses by 2050. In Africa, a review of the over 2,000 public health events between 2001 and 2021 indicates that 56 percent are linked to climate change, data from Africa CDC indicate.