President John Dramani Mahama has called for a shift in global and African health systems towards preventive care, stressing that investing in prevention is more effective and sustainable than relying only on treatment.
Speaking at the One Health Summit 2026 in Lyon, France, on Tuesday, he urged governments to focus on early detection, healthier lifestyles, and stronger public health systems as part of broader health reforms.
The President warned that recent outbreaks, including COVID-19, Mpox, Lassa fever, and Marburg disease, have exposed weaknesses in health systems on the continent.
”Over the past decades we have faced pandemics and plagues from Covid-19 to M-Pox, Lassa Fever and Maburg, each crisis has highlighted the importance of of one health approach,” he uttered.
He added that, the emergencies have taught a simple but vital truth that “prevention is not only more effective, it is far more cost‑effective than cure.”
He highlighted the need for a more integrated approach linking human, animal, and environmental health under the One Health framework.
He called for a renewed appreciation of indigenous practices and urged that we draw more actively on Africa’s heritage of integrated living to strengthen resilience at community level.
”We must reclaim our native practices and more actively draw on our heritage of integrated living across the continent,” he said.
Speaking further, he advocated for urgent global cooperation to confront the growing health risks driven by climate change, ecosystem degradation, and environmental pollution.
He warned that the most vulnerable countries continue to face the greatest burden with the least support.
Mr. Mahama said global health threats are increasingly interconnected and require coordinated international action to prevent worsening crises.
Source: Christabel Opare
