WCC NEWS: As global health support dwindles, African Christians urge more national investment

Christian faith and health leaders from sub-Saharan Africa, on 27 November, called for increased national investment and global solidarity to sustain health in the region, while affirming that promoting holistic health was a sacred expression of faith and a central calling of the church. Christian faith and health leaders from sub-Saharan Africa meeting in Nairobi on 27 November 2025. Photo: Fredrick Nzwili/WCC 01 December 2025 The leaders, drawn from different Christian denominations in 10 African countries, gathered in Nairobi from 25-27 November for a consultation on human health needs. The leaders assembled amidst concerns that the health systems in Africa were straining with growing need and shrinking global resources. The organizations are negatively impacted by the decision of US president Donald Trump to abruptly stop, pending review, funding for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and USAID programs, many of which faith-based groups were implementing. “We urge governments to sustain the frontlines of care and work with all sectors, including faith communities, so that no family is left without essential services. This includes faith-based partnerships,” said Rev. Francis Mkandawire, general secretary of the Evangelical Association of Malawi. He was reading part of a statement titled “One Faith, One Voice: A Shared Commitment to Health and Wholeness in Africa,” which the leaders released at a news conference at the end of the meeting. The statement affirms the leaders and their partners’ commitment to caring for the sick, protecting people’s health, and advocating for justice, as central mandates of discipleship and fundamental expression of Christian charity. “We believe that when we speak about health, we lend moral authority to our actions…We call upon Christian leaders to speak courageously about health from the pulpit and public life…” said Bishop Matthew Kukah, Catholic bishop of Sokoto Diocese in Nigeria. Christian Connections for International Health—a US based global network of health organizations and individuals—along with the All Africa Conference of Churches and the Africa Christian Health Associations Platforms, an organization that unites 40 national Christian health organizations in 32 sub-Saharan Africa countries, organized the meeting. “In the face of funding reductions, we are seeing new partnerships and innovations, among the Christian health actors,” said Dr Nkatha Njeru, Africa Christian Health Associations Platforms chief executive officer. “Now is the time to strengthen collaboration with national and local governments.” Joyce Khayiyi, a youth from the Anglican Church of Uganda, said that the declining official development assistance has increased the vulnerability of health systems. “Access to services and commodities among those most in need is reduced. As a result, lives are being threatened and lost,” she said. In a list of commitments, the faith leaders and their partners agreed to advocate jointly for moral health, emphasizing prevention and promotion through health education, hygiene, and vaccination; and to address wrong information, misleading theologies, and myths on health issues. They will also promote sustainable, locally fed financial models and governance of health systems, and communicate hope and accurate health information. The leaders want African governments and parliamentarians to prioritize equitable and sustained investment in health systems that serve all citizens, according to the Abuja Declaration. In the African Union agreement, in 2001, governments agreed to commit 15 percent of their GDP to the health sector. While we are having this conversation, said Kukah, there needs to be a much more aggressive and programmed decision to hold the feet of our politicians to the fire. “I don't think the churches were there when the politicians committed themselves to 15% of their GDP that was supposed to be committed to help. So I think going forward, we also need to pay attention,” he said. Archbishop Alex Gehaz Malasusa, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, said when faith-based groups or church leaders are engaging in health services, it was not only business and services only, but was an obligation. “As you witness in several countries in Africa, faith-based hospital and health sectors are really targeting mostly to the poor people and the marginalized, who can't afford paying,” he said. Reading the concluding part of the statement, Malasusa said disease knew no borders or biases, and the response of the faith communities must be just as expansive—united, compassionate, and without hesitation. See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa.  Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland