Africa: When aid falters, Africa must heal herself
Africa at a Crossroads: Strengthening Health Sovereignty in Changing Times
The African proverb “when elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers” echoes with truth in today’s shifting global landscape. Changes in international policies - especially regarding overseas aid - are being felt across the world, and Africa is among the regions most deeply affected.
Recent reductions in humanitarian support from the United States, including funding through USAID and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), are placing added pressure on public health systems across the continent. For countries like South Africa, which carries nearly a quarter of the world’s HIV burden, PEPFAR has been a crucial partner in the fight against HIV/AIDS for nearly two decades. Thanks to this support, infection and death rates have dropped dramatically. But now, uncertainty around future aid raises concerns about potential gaps in care, access to life-saving medicine, and the stability of prevention programs.
While the impact is real and immediate, this challenge is also prompting courageous conversations. Can Africa continue to rely on funding models vulnerable to change? Or is it time to forge a new path - toward long-term, home-grown solutions?
A growing number of African health experts and leaders believe the time has come to strengthen the continent’s capacity to produce its own medicines. Building a robust pharmaceutical sector would reduce dependence on external donors and offer greater resilience in times of global uncertainty. South Africa, with its strong scientific base and manufacturing capacity, is uniquely positioned to lead this shift and become a catalyst for regional transformation.
This is not about turning away from partnership but about building healthier foundations for collaboration - ones rooted in mutual respect, dignity, and shared responsibility.
Africa’s strength has always been found in its people - in their ingenuity, perseverance, and hope. Now is the time to invest in that strength, and to shape a future where every life matters, and no one is left behind.
Prayer Pointers
- Pray: for protection over vulnerable communities affected by changes in global aid, that God would bring provision and peace.
“He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry.” Psalm 146:7 - Pray: for African nations to build sustainable, locally-led health systems, anchored in courage and wisdom.
“The Lord will make you the head, not the tail.” Deuteronomy 28:13 - Pray: for righteous and visionary leadership across Africa - leaders who will uphold justice, protect the weak, and act with compassion.
“Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” Psalm 82:4
Prayer – Praying for Africa’s Health Future
Lord, bless the nations of Africa with boldness and wisdom. Raise up leaders with vision, compassion, and faith to build resilient health systems. Protect the most vulnerable, and inspire unity and innovation across the continent. Let Africa rise—healed, empowered, and led by Your Spirit.
More: https://mg.co.za/thought-leader/2025-03-31-us-aid-cuts-africa-must-make-its-own-medicine/
Ukraine: Russia boosts troops amidst fragile diplomacy
Russia has launched its largest military conscription effort in years, aiming to enlist 160,000 men between 18 and 30—a significant increase from previous years. This move comes amid critical developments in the Ukraine war. Despite ongoing peace discussions with the United States, Russian forces continue to press forward in eastern Ukraine, relying on North Korean soldiers in the Kursk region to counter Kyiv’s advances. Air assaults on Ukrainian cities have also persisted.
In an unexpected diplomatic twist, senior Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev is set to visit Washington, DC, to meet with Trump administration official Steve Witkoff. This will be the first high-level Russian visit to the US since the 2022 invasion. It signals a potential shift in US-Russia relations since President Donald Trump’s return to office earlier this year.
However, tension remains as Russian President Vladimir Putin recently dismissed Trump’s call for an immediate ceasefire, demanding the lifting of US sanctions as a condition for halting fighting in the Black Sea. Trump acknowledged that Russia might be deliberately slowing down negotiations, highlighting the ongoing complexity and fragility of the peace efforts.
Prayer Pointers (Watch Sergey Shidlovskiy’s Prayer video HERE)
- Pray: for the safety and protection of innocent civilians caught in the conflict, especially those facing violence and displacement. "The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble." Psalm 9:9
- Pray: for leaders on both sides to seek peace with integrity, prioritizing human life and stability over political gain. "The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases." Proverbs 21:1
- Pray: for the Church in Russia and Ukraine to be steadfast in faith, offering hope and support amidst the turmoil. "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1
Prayer – Praying for Peace in Ukraine
God of mercy, we pray for peace in Ukraine. Strengthen its people, guide its leaders with wisdom, heal the wounded, and soften the hearts of those causing harm. Bring comfort, hope, and restoration to all. Amen.
More: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/02/europe/putin-russia-spring-conscription-ukraine-intl/index.html
Congo: on the brink with war, displacement & disease
Ongoing violence in North and South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is leaving a trail of death, destruction, and displacement. The sound of gunfire has become all too familiar for families in towns like Masisi Centre, where intense clashes erupted again this week between M23 rebels and local militias.
The toll is rising. At least two civilians were killed, many more injured, and families remain trapped in their homes, paralyzed by fear and unable to access necessities. Fighting has made accurate assessments nearly impossible, but the suffering is undeniable. Amid the chaos, courageous workers and local volunteers are pressing on where they can. In Sake, over 500 displaced households have received emergency hygiene and household supplies, and water points are being repaired—offering a sliver of relief in a sea of hardship.
But relief is hard to come by. In South Kivu’s Fizi Territory, the violence has surged again. Villages already sheltering thousands of displaced people—Mulima and Lusuku—are now emptying once more as new waves of fighting force families to flee. To make matters worse, the southern province of Tanganyika is now facing a rapidly growing cholera outbreak. Nine out of eleven health zones are affected. Over 1,450 people have been infected this year and 27 have died—a six-fold increase from the same period last year. With clean water nearly non-existent in many communities and health centres struggling to keep up, the crisis is intensifying.
The M23, claiming to defend the interests of Congolese Tutsis, has advanced with alarming speed—reportedly with the support of Rwandan forces. Other groups like the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) also remain active, fuelling instability that local communities have endured for far too long.
The people of eastern Congo are weary. Displaced from homes, cut off from clean water, and gripped by fear, they are facing one of the region’s darkest seasons in recent memory. For many, it feels as though the world has looked away. But their voices rise. And so must ours—in prayer, in advocacy, and in hope that justice and peace will one day take root where violence has reigned for too long.
Prayer Pointers
- Pray: for protection, provision, and peace for civilians caught in crossfire and forced to flee their homes. “The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.” - Psalm 9:9
- Pray: for an end to armed conflict and for justice to restrain those who exploit violence to maintain power. “When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.” Proverbs 21:15
- Pray: for healing, clean water, and resources to contain the cholera outbreak and strengthen overwhelmed health workers. “I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and let them enjoy abundant peace.” Jeremiah 33:6
Prayer – Praying for the weary people of Congo
Lord, have mercy on the people of Congo. Shelter the displaced, heal the wounded, stop the violence, and purge disease. Raise up justice, restore families, and stir the global Church to act with compassion, boldness, and enduring faith. Amen
ISRAEL – GAZA: War - lives lost, hope fading
In the Shadows of the Israel - Gaza War: Lives Lost, Hope Fading
A fresh wave of airstrikes has left Gaza reeling, with the latest blow landing on a shelter in Jabalia — a former UN clinic now crowded with hundreds of displaced people seeking refuge. Nineteen lives were lost, including nine children. Among them, heartbreakingly, a two-week-old baby.
The building had already been damaged earlier in the war, yet more than 700 people were still sheltering there. “They had nowhere else to go,” said Philippe Lazzarini of UNRWA, echoing the desperation of thousands who are simply trying to survive. Across Gaza, families are mourning. Entire homes have been flattened in Khan Younis, Rafah, and Gaza City. First responders report pulling the bodies of women, infants, and elderly from rubble. With aid blockaded and medical centres overwhelmed, each new strike brings another layer of grief — another reminder of the growing humanitarian abyss.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a new military corridor, saying operations had “switched gears.” This strategy, described as increasing pressure on Hamas by seizing territory and dividing the Gaza Strip, aims to force the release of 59 remaining hostages. But for civilians, it has meant intensified bombardment, more displacement, and the erosion of any semblance of safety.
More than 140,000 people have been ordered to evacuate Rafah in recent days — a place many had already fled to, only to be uprooted again. Behind every policy shift, behind each new military objective, are families. Children who no longer sleep. Mothers clinging to memories. A population shrinking under the weight of war.
Even in the heart of sorrow, voices are rising — some calling for ceasefires, others for humanitarian corridors, and all for life over politics. As the Hostages and Missing Families Forum urged, “There is an obligation to pursue every possible channel for the release of hostages.” But there is also an obligation — moral, ancient, unshakable — to preserve the dignity and life of all human beings caught in this terrible storm.
Prayer Pointers
- Pray: for Protection of the Innocent. Ask God to shield civilians—especially children and the displaced—from violence and fear. Pray that homes, hospitals, and shelters would be spared and preserved. “Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men; preserve me from violent men." Psalm 140:1
- Pray: for Just and Compassionate Leadership
Intercede for leaders on all sides to reject political gain and prioritize peace. Pray for wise, humble decisions that honour human dignity. "Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute." Psalm 82
- Pray: for Peace and Hostage Release
Pray for the swift and safe release of hostages. Ask the Lord to move hearts toward negotiation and ceasefire, breaking cycles of revenge. "He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives…" Isaiah 61:1
Prayer – Praying for human life amidst the war
Lord, we cry out for the people of Gaza and Israel. Still the hands of violence. Shelter the innocent. Stir courage in leaders to seek peace, not power. Restore justice and dignity where it has been trampled. May mercy prevail over vengeance. Amen.
We invite you to be praying for revival across Jerusalem, Israel, and the Jewish world, that the same Spirit will bring revival, bridge divides, and fulfil God's promises to His chosen people.
