AU Summit: Shettima urges Africa to embrace health security sovereignty

Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for a decisive shift toward health security sovereignty across Africa, urging countries on the continent to reduce dependence on foreign aid and build resilient, self-sustaining health systems.

Shettima made the call on Friday at a high-level side event titled “Building Africa’s Health Security Sovereignty,” held alongside the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Representing President Bola Tinubu at the summit, the Vice President said Africa must ensure that its health systems are no longer vulnerable to global supply chain disruptions or shifting international priorities during crises.

“Health security is national security, and in an interconnected continent, national security is continental security,” Shettima said, warning that pandemics, counterfeit medicines and disease outbreaks do not respect borders.

The initiative on health security and sovereignty is a collaboration between the Nigerian government and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). It aims to mobilise investments in the health workforce, community health systems and sustainable immunisation programmes.

Shettima said Nigeria is ready to work with other African countries to build a continent capable of “healing itself,” adding that sovereignty must be reflected in functional laboratories, trained health workers, accredited facilities and expanded insurance coverage.

He recalled Africa’s experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many countries struggled to access vaccines and medical supplies, stressing that endurance in times of crisis is not a long-term strategy.

Outlining domestic measures, Shettima said Nigeria has prioritised local pharmaceutical manufacturing, expanded domestic health financing and strengthened regulatory oversight.