As Africa looks toward a future defined by youth, innovation, and economic transformation, one truth is becoming increasingly clear: the continent’s long-term trajectory will depend not only on the opportunities created for young people, but on whether children survive and thrive in the earliest years of life.
Behind every conversation about demographic growth, workforce expansion, and human capital lies a more urgent question: are African children being given a fair chance to reach their fifth birthday? In this timely...
Dr. William Menson
Dr. William Menson is the Director for Health Financing for Africa at ONE.
When health budgets shrink, the consequences are immediate and devastating for Africa’s youngest citizens. Drawing from frontline experience and broader fiscal realities, this piece makes a clear case: under-five survival is not just a health priority, but a defining economic and political choice—one that will shape the continent’s future.