The head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has raised serious concerns about new health funding agreements being negotiated between the United States and several African countries.
Director-General Jean Kaseya said there are “huge concerns” about how sensitive health data and pathogen samples would be shared under these deals. Some agreements require countries to quickly provide the U.S. with information about dangerous pathogens that could cause outbreaks, as a condition for receiving funding. Critics argue that the deals do not clearly guarantee that any vaccines or medicines developed from that shared data would be made available to the affected countries.
On Wednesday, Zimbabwe withdrew from talks over a proposed $367 million, five-year agreement, saying the terms were unequal and raised concerns about sensitive data. Zambia also said it objected to parts of its own draft deal.
These agreements are part of broader changes in how the U.S. delivers global health funding under President Donald Trump. His administration has reduced foreign aid spending, dismantled its main aid agency, and emphasized an “America First” approach to global health policy.
Kaseya said he initially welcomed the idea of African countries receiving funds more directly and being required to co-invest in their health systems. However, he declined to have Africa CDC act as an official observer in the negotiations, saying he respects the sovereignty of each country.
He added that Africa CDC stands ready to support any nation that wants to renegotiate or needs help implementing an agreement, emphasizing that member states have the agency’s full backing.
SOURCE : TRT AFRICA
