This week in Africa: a potential breakthrough in the fight against sleeping sickness with a single-dose oral treatment, alongside a $1.2 billion health agreement between the DRC and the United States. At the same time, the WHO maintains a global alert over polio, Nigeria faces a rise in Lassa fever cases and Zambia continues its cholera response, as several countries step up reforms to strengthen health system resilience.

The fight against sleeping sickness could see a major advance in Africa. The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has issued a positive scientific opinion on acoziborole Winthrop.

The drug, developed by DNDi and Sanofi, will be intended for countries where the disease is endemic. Sanofi plans to provide it free of charge to the World Health Organization to support efforts to eliminate the disease by 2030.

Good news for #sleepingsickness: @DNDi and @Sanofi announce treatment success rates of up to 95% for the single-dose oral acoziborole, a potentially transformative treatment for this deadly disease. The results were published in @TheLancetInfDis https://t.co/qSgR2u9jTF pic.twitter.com/ce3FtIUVnK

— Uniting to Combat Neglected Tropical Diseases (@CombatNTDs) November 30, 2022

The medication is a single-dose oral treatment for African human trypanosomiasis caused by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense. This form of the disease, transmitted by the tsetse fly, accounts for the vast majority of cases. Without treatment, the infection progresses to the central nervous system and is almost always fatal.

The new drug uses a simplified treatment protocol. It is taken as a single dose of three tablets and can treat both early and advanced stages of the disease. Current therapies often require several days of treatment, infusions or injections, and hospitalization.

Results from a phase II and III clinical trial conducted in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Guinea show a success rate of up to 96% after 18 months of follow-up.

For Dr. Luis Pizarro, executive director of the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), this progress marks a breakthrough. “In just twenty years, we have moved from complex treatments based on arsenic derivatives to a single-dose oral treatment that can safely cure patients,” he said.

Health diplomacy: Kinshasa validates $1.2 billion agreement with Washington

Unlike some of its neighbors, such as Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has approved a massive $1.2 billion health agreement with the United States. The bilateral contract, negotiated with the Trump administration, aims to support programs to fight HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria.

Kinshasa’s decision nevertheless highlights a growing diplomatic divide on the continent over health data governance. While other capitals worry about biological sovereignty, the DRC is prioritizing immediate financial support to stabilize a health system under pressure.

Media: African health journalism enters “Code Red”

The Africa Health Media Trends 2026 report sounds the alarm on the growing precariousness of health journalism on the continent. Faced with declining funding and the rise of digital misinformation, specialized media outlets are struggling to fulfill their role as public health watchdogs. This “Code Red” warning highlights the risk of a breakdown in trust between health authorities and populations, particularly in the wake of Covid-19.

For the sector, the challenge is to build a viable economic model for rigorous health reporting, which is essential for the adoption of prevention policies.

Without strong support for the training of scientific journalists, the continent’s ability to respond to future pandemics could be seriously weakened by the lack of a credible media relay.

Polio eradication: WHO maintains global emergency

The World Health Organization (WHO), during the 44th emergency committee meeting of the International Health Regulations (IHR), said at the beginning of March that the international spread of polioviruses remains a global health emergency.

Wild poliovirus type 1 currently circulates in only two countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan. However, the detection of the virus in wastewater in Germany in October 2025 is a reminder that importation remains possible everywhere.

On the African continent, the situation is marked by the circulation of vaccine-derived polioviruses. In 2025, 202 cases were reported worldwide, with Nigeria alone accounting for 53 cases, or 28% of the global total. Ethiopia follows with 40 cases.

Several other countries, including Algeria, Angola, Chad, the DRC, and Niger, face active circulation. Outbreak pockets persist where vaccine coverage is low, often due to conflict or limited access.

Nigeria: NCDC alerts on spread of Lassa fever

In Nigeria, the Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reports a worrying rise in Lassa fever cases across several states. The viral hemorrhagic disease, endemic in the region, continues to test the resilience of the Nigerian health system.

? Strengthening State-Level Response to Lassa Fever and Protecting Healthcare Workers

As Nigeria continues to respond to Lassa fever, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has intensified efforts to strengthen the national response and support states in… pic.twitter.com/TwdKjEY60B

— NCDC (@NCDCgov) March 5, 2026

According to the weekly epidemiological report covering Feb. 9 to 15, 2026, the number of new confirmed infections rose from 74 cases recorded in week 6 to 82 cases in week 7. The affected states include Bauchi, Ondo, Gombe, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Kano, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Taraba, Plateau, and Benue.

In total, Nigeria has recorded 82 confirmed cases and 75 deaths so far in 2026, with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 23%, higher than the 19.7% recorded during the same period in 2025, health authorities said.

According to authorities, the rise in cases is partly linked to improved epidemiological surveillance, but also to environmental factors favoring the proliferation of rodent vectors. One of the main challenges is to limit nosocomial transmission and strengthen prevention protocols in rural health centers. The NCDC is urging affected states to intensify community awareness campaigns for early detection.

Sierra Leone: acceleration in the fight against cervical cancer

Sierra Leone is stepping up efforts to eliminate cervical cancer. With support from the WHO, as well as UNICEF, UNFPA, and Gavi, the country is implementing an integrated strategy combining vaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV) in young girls, early screening, and access to treatment.

Freetown notably exceeded its national targets during a recent campaign based on a multi-age cohort strategy. This approach targets adolescents from a wider range of age groups to quickly increase population immunity and close existing gaps.

The national campaign allowed more than one million girls to be vaccinated, reaching 116% of the initial target. For the first time, eligibility was expanded to girls aged 11 to 18.

This push comes as cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of female mortality in the country.

Zambia: more than 1,100 cholera cases

Since the beginning of the outbreak last August, Zambia has recorded more than 1,100 cases of cholera, amid worrying persistence of the bacteria in several districts.

Health authorities point to weaknesses in water supply and sanitation infrastructure, exacerbated by unstable climatic conditions. The crisis is putting heavy pressure on public finances, notably due to large-scale oral vaccination campaigns and emergency water-treatment logistics.

The government response is now structured around a multisectoral approach involving urban planning and education to break seasonal transmission cycles.

Southern Africa: AfDB finances regional health resilience

The African Development Bank (AfDB) is strengthening its support through the African Development Fund. On March 3, 2026, it approved a $9.57 million grant for the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

The project, “Resilient Health Systems for Emergency Preparedness,” will train 449 health professionals, including 269 women. In parallel, 35 nutrition coordinators will receive specialized certification.

The program also includes infrastructure investments. Laboratories will be renovated in six countries. In Mozambique, the Instituto Nacional de Saúde will become a regional reference laboratory, while in Lesotho the national blood bank will be strengthened.

Ethiopia: digital shift for public health emergency management

Ethiopia launched the digitalization of its national Public Health Emergency Management (PHEM) system this week.

“We don’t have time to waste when it comes to public health. We must integrate, we must act, and we must use data. Today’s session is about converting our words into action,” Health Minister Mekdes Daba said at the launch of the project. The initiative modernizes the national emergency operations center with interoperable digital platforms allowing real-time analysis.

This transformation marks a break with older manual and fragmented systems. Ethiopia aims to become a regional center of excellence in this field.

Ethiopia: $32 million investment in medical training in Somali region

The Somali Regional State (SRS), the second-largest region of Ethiopia in terms of land area, is launching the construction of a health college valued at $32 million.

The project aims to address the critical shortage of qualified medical personnel in a region that has long been underserved.

By investing in local academic training, regional authorities hope to strengthen primary health care and improve system resilience as the region continues to face recurring crises.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi