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Why is testing for diseases so hard to access in Africa?

Why is testing for diseases so hard to access in Africa?

Less than 20% of Africa’s population has access to quality diagnostics

Africa Daily · BBC World Service

August 13, 202421m 6s

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Show Notes

Less than 50% of the world’s population have access to diagnostics, according to statistics from the medical journal, The Lancet.

That drops to 20% when it comes to Africa, where the diagnostic gap is most severe at the level of primary health care. According to The Global Health Fund, Africa bears a quarter of the global disease burden and endures over 100 health emergencies a year.

In this episode of the Africa Daily Podcast, Peter Musembi explores what needs to be done to address that acute gap in diagnostics in Africa.

Guests: Zambian health worker Constance Mudenda and Dr Allan Pamba, Executive Vice President in charge of Africa for Roche Diagnostics.