[Correspondence] A strong and independent Africa CDC would benefit the world
The COVID-19 pandemic has sent shockwaves around the world. Yet, the two-tier response that leaves one-third of the world's population unvaccinated demonstrates how the fundamental concerns of statecraft—power, security, influence, and survival—have driven national responses. Few would dispute that a stronger framework for health emergencies, with WHO at the centre, would be beneficial for global health security; however, the failure of member states to comply with the International Health Regulations and other multilateral provisions for COVID-19 signifies not only an institutional weakness but also an enduring feature of the global system: the self-interested behaviour of sovereign states.
The COVID-19 pandemic has sent shockwaves around the world. Yet, the two-tier response that leaves one-third of the world's population unvaccinated demonstrates how the fundamental concerns of statecraft—power, security, influence, and survival—have driven national responses. Few would dispute that a stronger framework for health emergencies, with WHO at the centre, would be beneficial for global health security; however, the failure of member states to comply with the International Health Regulations and other multilateral provisions for COVID-19 signifies not only an institutional weakness but also an enduring feature of the global system: the self-interested behaviour of sovereign states.
