Fragmented health information systems, limited digital infrastructure and gaps in data governance continue to affect healthcare delivery, disease surveillance and public health decision-making across African Union Member States. Addressing these challenges requires secure, interoperable systems that enable countries to manage and use their health data effectively.
Through its Digital Health and Information Systems (DHIS) Division, Africa CDC works with Member States to strengthen digital health infrastructure, improve interoperability and advance national ownership and control of health data. This work supports the development of connected, secure and sustainable digital health systems that translate health data into actionable public health intelligence.
A key priority is primary healthcare digitalisation, guided by a continental ambition to have 90% of Africa’s primary healthcare systems digitally enabled by 2035. Africa CDC has developed the Africa Digital Health Maturity Assessment Tool (ADHMAT) and supporting implementation tools to help countries assess readiness, identify gaps and guide national planning and investment. ADHMAT has been applied in a growing number of Member States, with 12 countries completed and about 120 national focal persons capacitated.
The Sovereign Data for Health initiative – demonstrated in Ethiopia, Botswana and Senegal – shows how nationally governed health data can strengthen service delivery, continuity of care and public health decision-making. OKAPI, Africa CDC’s federated health intelligence architecture, complements this work by enabling secure, policy-controlled data exchange and analysis without requiring Member States to centralise their raw health data.
A major milestone was reached on 22 October 2026, when African Union Member States validated the African Continental Health Data Governance Framework following consultations that began in 2025. The framework established common principles for the responsible collection, protection, access, use and sharing of health data while preserving national control. Africa CDC will now finalise the agreed amendments and advance the Framework through the relevant African Union policy processes, with consideration anticipated in 2027.
Africa CDC is also advancing work on sovereign cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence to strengthen health intelligence and enable faster detection of and response to public health threats.
Together, these initiatives form part of Africa CDC’s continental mandate across all 55 African Union Member States to advance interoperable, nationally governed and sustainable digital health systems that strengthen healthcare delivery, public health preparedness and response.
