By Bunmi Yekini
The Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA) has expressed concern over the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, backing the World Health Organization’s decision to declare the situation a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) and calling on African governments to strengthen investments in health security.
In a statement issued by Dr. Richard Nchabi Kamwi, President of the Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA), on Monday, the pan-African health organization said it stood in solidarity with affected communities, healthcare workers, public health professionals and researchers involved in efforts to contain the outbreak.
The group welcomed the WHO’s emergency declaration, describing it as a critical step toward mobilizing international coordination, funding and response mechanisms to support affected countries and prevent further spread of the virus.
SAA commended the governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, as well as the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the World Health Organization, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), humanitarian agencies and other international partners for their response efforts.
According to the organization, measures including enhanced surveillance, contact tracing, isolation of confirmed cases, clinical care and community engagement have been essential in limiting transmission and protecting lives.
The society also urged countries across Africa to remain vigilant and strengthen preparedness measures, warning that infectious disease outbreaks can quickly cross national borders if surveillance and response systems are weak.
“Effective containment depends on strong surveillance systems, rapid information sharing, coordinated response efforts and sustained public trust,” the statement said.
While acknowledging Africa CDC’s leadership in coordinating continental public health responses, SAA said epidemic preparedness should not rely solely on regional institutions.
The organization called on African heads of state to prioritize investments in disease surveillance, laboratory networks, healthcare workforce development, emergency response systems and infection prevention and control measures.
It also advocated increased support for research and innovation, as well as local manufacturing of diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics, describing such investments as both public health and national security priorities.
SAA said lessons from previous outbreaks, including HIV/AIDS, Ebola and COVID-19, had demonstrated the importance of preparedness in saving lives, protecting economies and strengthening resilience.
“Africa cannot afford to remain reactive,” the organization said. “We must build sustainable systems capable of detecting, preventing and responding to public health threats before they become crises.”
The society called for stronger collaboration among governments, regional bodies, international partners, researchers and communities to improve the continent’s readiness for future epidemics and pandemics.”The time to invest in preparedness is before the next outbreak, not during it,” the statement added.
Dr. Richard Nchabi Kamwi, President of the Society for AIDS in Africa, said the Ebola outbreak serves as a reminder that sustained investments in health systems and preparedness are essential to safeguarding lives and strengthening Africa’s resilience against future public health emergencies.