Countries across Western and Central Africa are grappling with mounting pressure on their health systems as shrinking financing collides with rising demand driven by population growth, disease outbreaks, climate shocks, and a growing dual burden of disease.
In response to these challenges, the World Bank Group has developed a new regional health strategy titled “Fit to Prosper: Investing in Health for Jobs and Development in Western & Central Africa.” The initiative aims to guide countries in making strategic health investments despite constrained fiscal space, while promoting long-term development outcomes.
The strategy aligns with key continental and global frameworks, including the Accra Reset, the Lusaka Agenda, and the World Bank Group’s commitment to Universal Health Coverage. It also advances the Africa Initiative for Medical Access and Manufacturing (AIM2030), which seeks to boost local production of essential health products, strengthen health security, and generate employment opportunities across the region.
To formally introduce the strategy, the World Bank Group, in collaboration with the Government of Ghana and the Global Financing Facility, will host a high-level regional launch event in Accra on Monday, May 4, 2026.
The event will be presided over by John Dramani Mahama, underscoring Ghana’s central role in shaping regional health and development priorities.
The launch is expected to bring together policymakers, development partners, and health sector stakeholders to discuss practical pathways for strengthening health systems while driving economic growth in Western and Central Africa.
