COVID-19 Pandemic Leaves Lasting Impact on Global Health, Africa Hit Hardest
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on global health, resulting in a significant decline in life expectancy and overall well-being, according to the 2025 World Health Statistics Report. The report, published by the World Health Organization (WHO), reveals that global life expectancy fell by 1.8 years between 2019 and 2021, reversing a decade of health gains. This decline is particularly alarming in Africa, where the pandemic has exacerbated existing health challenges.
The report highlights a critical shortage of healthcare workers, with a projected shortfall of 11.1 million workers by 2030, mostly in the African and Eastern Mediterranean regions. Marc Canal Noguer, a senior fellow at the McKinsey Health Institute, notes that Africa accounts for 52% of the global shortage, despite having only 17% of the world’s population. This shortage has severe consequences, including reduced life expectancy and increased disease burden.
The pandemic has also led to increased levels of anxiety and depression, reducing global healthy life expectancy by 6 weeks. Furthermore, the report notes that while HIV and TB incidence rates are falling, malaria has been resurging since 2015, and antimicrobial resistance remains a significant public health challenge.
The healthcare workforce requires urgent attention, investment, and innovation to address these challenges. Eliminating the worker shortage could extend global life expectancy by 1.5 years, but in Africa, individuals could live up to 7 years longer. However, many healthcare workers in Africa face high unemployment rates, and some are even unpaid, with 70% of community healthcare workers in sub-Saharan Africa being young women who receive no payment or incentives.
The WHO projects a shortfall of at least 10 million health workers by 2030, with 42 countries, mostly in Africa, facing the dual challenge of insufficient healthcare workers and available jobs. The report emphasizes the need to address the persistent gender inequity in leadership positions within the health sector, where women occupy only 25% of senior roles globally and 38% in Africa.
In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on global health, with Africa bearing the brunt of the crisis. The shortage of healthcare workers, particularly in Africa, requires immediate attention and investment to prevent further decline in life expectancy and health outcomes. As the world recovers from the pandemic, it is essential to prioritize healthcare workforce development, innovation, and gender equity to build resilient health systems and ensure a healthier future for all.
