Africa rises: A united front against Ebola’s shadow

In a powerful call for unity and decisive action, President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his capacity as African Union Champion on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response, today lauded the swift and transparent responses of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda to recent Ebola outbreaks.

South African President’s statement underscores the critical importance of early detection and rapid intervention in
preventing regional escalation of the deadly virus.

Ramaphosa commended both nations for their leadership in declaring the outbreaks of the Bundibugyo strain in Ituri Province, DRC, and Kampala, Uganda, following laboratory confirmation.

This transparency, he noted, is vital in containing such threats before they
spiral into wider crises.

Expressing profound solidarity, President Ramaphosa extended his support to the
governments and peoples of the DRC and Uganda, particularly acknowledging the tireless efforts of affected communities and frontline health workers.

He also praised neighboring countries for their proactive measures in strengthening preparedness, cross- border surveillance, and emergency coordination.
A significant highlight of the President’s address was the recognition of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), under the leadership of Director General Dr. Jean Kaseya.

Working in close collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), Africa CDC has provided rapid support to affected countries, spearheading regional coordination and mobilizing partners for a unified continental response.

This effort, Ramaphosa highlighted, builds upon the successful incident management model previously deployed during the mpox response.
The President urged the DRC and Uganda to maintain strong political leadership
and foster an environment of trust and transparency, working hand-in-hand with frontline responders and communities to halt the outbreaks at their source.

He issued a stark warning: “Ebola does not respect borders.” He emphasized the significant risk of regional spread due to high population mobility, insecurity, and humanitarian movement, calling for urgent and coordinated action.

He implored affected and at-risk countries to intensify cross-border collaboration, bolster surveillance at all points of entry, and ensure rapid information sharing, especially in areas
grappling with insecurity and displacement.
As the chair of the Global Leaders Network for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health, the President made a special plea to safeguard the well-being of women, children, and adolescents, ensuring that routine health services do not falter amidst the crisis.

The outbreaks serve as a potent reminder, despite declining Official Development Assistance, that Africa must prioritize sustained investment in resilient public health systems and robust regional health security architecture.

This includes continuous funding
for national public health institutes, emergency operations centers, advanced laboratory and genomic surveillance networks, a well-trained health workforce, and rapid response capabilities.

Ramaphosa concluded with a powerful appeal to African Union Member States
and international partners to amplify their support for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.
He called for timely financing, technical assistance, medical countermeasures, and direct aid to affected communities, asserting that “Solidarity must translate into concrete action.”

He reaffirmed his commitment, in his role as African Union Champion, to work alongside the African Union Commission, Heads of State and Government, Africa CDC, and partners.

The goal is to ensure Africa’s response remains coordinated, adequately financed, and firmly rooted in the principles of solidarity, health security, and sovereignty.

The message is clear: the peoples of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and the wider region will not face this threat alone. Africa, with its experience, institutions, and resolve, possesses the capacity to contain these outbreaks.