President Cyril Ramaphosa says African countries should strengthen health systems and pandemic preparedness to avoid repeating the unpreparedness seen during COVID-19. In statements reported by IOL, he points to ongoing Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda as evidence that infectious disease threats continue to emerge and spread across the region. Ramaphosa argues that Africa needs improved health security measures, including stronger surveillance and response capabilities, so countries can detect outbreaks earlier and respond more effectively.
The reports frame his message as a call to act now rather than wait for another major crisis. By referencing the Ebola situations in the DRC and Uganda, Ramaphosa emphasizes that preparedness is a continuing requirement, not a one-time effort. Overall, the coverage agrees that his central focus is strengthening continental and national systems for outbreak management, with the goal of reducing the risk that health emergencies escalate due to gaps in readiness.
