Africa Must Manufacture Its Own Contraceptives to Achieve Health Sovereignty – UNFPA Regional Director
UNFPA Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Dr Sennen Hounton, has called on African governments to invest in local manufacturing of contraceptives and essential medical supplies to reduce the continent's dependence on external suppliers.
By Boakye Stephen, Kumasi, Ghana | Reporting for Ghanaian News, Canada | July 23,2026
Speaking at a press conference in Accra, Dr Hounton argued that Africa cannot achieve genuine health sovereignty while relying heavily on imported reproductive health commodities and donor support.
“We cannot have sovereignty by tending our hand and asking for others to use their taxpayer money to give us contraception. So we must produce on this continent at scale,” he said.
He called for greater cooperation among African governments to establish manufacturing facilities capable of producing essential medical supplies at scale.
According to Dr Hounton, regional collaboration is necessary because individual African countries may face challenges in establishing and sustaining large-scale pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities on their own.
He also stressed that access to contraceptives can help women and girls make informed reproductive choices, remain in school and avoid circumstances such as child marriage.
Dr Hounton further called for increased investment in reproductive health, saying current government funding remains insufficient to meet the needs of women and girls across the continent.
He said the UNFPA is working with partners, including the African Development Bank, to develop financing mechanisms combining concessional loans and grants to support health investments.
Commentary
The call for local manufacturing highlights a broader question of health security and economic independence in Africa, as the continent seeks to reduce its reliance on imported medical supplies and strengthen access to essential healthcare.
