In 2025, Africa's health sector told a compelling story of contrasts, marked by milestones in disease elimination while simultaneously grappling with some of the most severe outbreaks in decades.

For children and vulnerable communities, 2025 has been a complex landscape marked by the recurrence of public health emergencies. We have seen outbreaks of cholera, mpox, viral hemorrhagic fevers such as Marburg, and also Ebola, said Dr. Edna Moturi, United Nations Children's Fund Regional Health Emergency Specialist for Eastern and Southern Africa.

Moturi also expressed concern about the increase in vaccine-preventable diseases, stating that many routine immunization programs stagnated and even declined, leading to an increase in outbreaks of polio and measles.

The cholera situation in Africa during 2025 reached crisis proportions, with the Africa CDC declaring it the continent's worst outbreak in 25 years. By November, approximately 300,000 confirmed and suspected cases had been recorded, along with more than 7,000 deaths, marking a 30 percent increase over the previous year.

Cholera is a severe and potentially fatal diarrheal disease that spreads rapidly when sewage and drinking water are not properly treated. Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, and Nigeria reported the highest numbers of cholera cases.

In August, the Africa CDC and the World Health Organization launched the Continental Cholera Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan for Africa 1.0, with African heads of state committing to controlling and eliminating outbreaks by 2030.

Mpox continued to be a major concern throughout the year, spreading well beyond its traditional boundaries. Data from the Africa CDC shows that between January 1 and November 23, 28 African countries reported 42,147 confirmed cases of mpox, resulting in 192 deaths.

Marburg virus disease has made alarming appearances in new territories in Africa. Ethiopia reported its first-ever outbreak in Jinka town, with 14 confirmed cases, of which nine individuals have died.

Despite the challenges, there were many accomplishments recorded in Africa. Uganda contained a Sudan virus disease outbreak in less than three months, while Egypt and Senegal achieved milestones in eliminating trachoma as a public health problem.

The countries we've seen with successes have invested in building their health systems, resilience, and preparedness. By maintaining strong primary healthcare, we can increase access to preventive services.

For 2026, the emphasis must be on preparedness. Emergencies are becoming more frequent, and one of the key lessons is the investment in preparedness, urging donors to adopt a proactive approach rather than a reactionary one.