African researchers are at the forefront of medical research, pioneering several groundbreaking treatments and discovering new medicines. Despite being underrepresented in mainstream media, they are making significant contributions to global health and driving progress across various fields.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Office for Africa, a study of 1,000 new or modified technologies developed worldwide to target different areas of the COVID-19 response revealed that Africa accounts for 12.8% of these innovations. The targeted response areas include surveillance, contact tracing, community engagement, treatment, laboratory systems, and infection prevention and control.
In Africa, 57.8% of innovations were ICT-driven, 25% were based on 3D printing, and 10.9% involved robotics. ICT-based innovations include WhatsApp chatbots in South Africa, self-diagnostic tools in Angola, contact-tracing apps in Ghana, and mobile health information tools in Nigeria. The countries leading in innovation were South Africa (13%), Kenya (10%), Nigeria (8%), and Rwanda (6%).
HIV/AIDS Research and Treatment
One of Africa’s most notable contributions to global health has been in the fight against HIV/AIDS. South Africa, in particular, has led this effort, with institutions like the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA) pioneering the development of groundbreaking microbicides. These have significantly reduced HIV transmission rates among women and have been instrumental in shaping global strategies for managing the HIV epidemic, transforming it from a death sentence into a manageable condition for millions worldwide.
Ebola Vaccine Development
The Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014 prompted urgent research and development efforts, leading to the creation of the rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine, also known as Ervebo. African researchers played a crucial role in developing and testing this vaccine, which has since been deployed to prevent subsequent outbreaks. This vaccine not only saved lives in Africa but also set a new standard for rapid vaccine development, influencing the global fight against other infectious diseases, including COVID-19.
Malaria Control Innovations
The Ifakara Health Institute in Tanzania has been a leader in malaria control, developing insecticide-treated bed nets and artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) that have dramatically reduced malaria-related deaths across the continent. Recently, research has focused on gene-editing technologies to control mosquito populations—an approach that could revolutionise malaria prevention worldwide.
Technological Innovations by African Inventors
Beyond health-specific innovations, African inventors have made groundbreaking contributions to technology with global applications. For instance, Nigerian engineer Dr. Kunle Olukotun developed the first multi-core processor, a technology that revolutionised computing and is now standard in nearly every device. Additionally, Kenyan innovator Roy Allela created smart gloves that convert sign language into audio speech, significantly improving communication for the deaf and mute communities worldwide.
The Road Ahead
Despite the progress made in medical research, Africa faces significant challenges in maintaining and expanding its research capabilities due to chronic underfunding. The African Union’s goal of allocating 1% of GDP to research and development (R&D) by 2006 remains unmet in most countries, exacerbating the problem. While Africa accounts for 16% of the global population, only 1.3% of the world’s researchers are from the continent.
Nevertheless, the future holds promise as African nations continue to forge partnerships with international institutions, attract greater investments, and strengthen local research capacities. According to WHO, 47 African Member States in the WHO African Region adopted a strategy to scale up health innovations in Africa. By 2023, 80% of these Member States had agreed to perform needs assessments to identify critical gaps in their health systems and established coordination mechanisms to scale up innovations. Additionally, 75% had developed policies and incentive frameworks, and half had developed analytical tools to assess the economic and social impact of innovations.
Africa’s contributions to global health research underscore the continent’s potential as a powerhouse of innovation. By addressing its challenges and leveraging its strengths, Africa is poised to play an increasingly central role in shaping the future of global health.
