Don't wait for another COVID crisis, Ramaphosa warns amid Ebola spread

President Cyril Ramaphosa has issued a stark warning to African nations: don't wait for another COVID-19-level catastrophe. His urgent call for strengthened pandemic preparedness comes as fresh Ebola outbreaks, particularly of the virulent Bundibugyo strain with no licensed vaccine, continue to challenge the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda. This isn't just a health crisis; it's a critical moment for the continent to assert its health sovereignty and avoid the devastating economic and social repercussions witnessed during the last global pandemic. Currently, the DRC is battling over 1,000 confirmed Ebola cases and more than 250 deaths, while Uganda has reported 20 cases, epidemiologically linked to the DRC. Ramaphosa's message, delivered in his latest weekly newsletter, directly addresses the hard lessons learned from COVID-19, where Africa was left 'at the back of the global queue' for vital vaccines and treatments. The ongoing Ebola response is complicated by humanitarian crises, remote regions, and persistent insecurity, with the World Health Organization still deeming current efforts insufficient. In response, African leaders are mobilising, having agreed to establish an African Epidemic Fund, with South Africa pledging a significant $13.5 million to the Africa CDC to bolster response efforts. A joint Africa CDC and WHO Continental Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan for the Bundibugyo outbreak, spanning June to November 2026, is underway, aiming to raise over $500 million for comprehensive support. This push aligns with the ambitious Africa Health Security and Sovereignty (AHSS) Agenda, which targets 60% local production of medicines, diagnostics, and vaccines by 2040, reinforcing Africa's resolve for self-reliance in health.