NAIROBI: HEALTH journalism in Africa is under severe strain at a time of mounting public health challenges, according to the Africa Health Media Trends Report 2026 released in Nairobi by FINN Partners.
The report, based on interviews with journalists, editors and advocates in 11 African countries, says shrinking donor funding, a growing burden of noncommunicable diseases and climate-related health threats are stretching already limited newsroom resources.
It describes the situation as a “code red” moment for health reporting, warning that weakened media capacity could undermine public health outcomes across the continent.
Health reporters are grappling with rising cases of cancer, diabetes and mental health conditions, alongside recurring infectious disease outbreaks. At the same time, many newsrooms have reduced specialist health desks and face limited access to timely and credible data, the report says.
“We are at a pivotal moment for health communication in Africa,” Peter Finn, founding partner and chief executive of FINN Partners, said in a statement. “When journalism is under-resourced, public health suffers.”
The report finds that shifts in global health financing have become a dominant theme in coverage, as African countries reassess domestic health funding, local manufacturing and what it terms “health sovereignty.” Journalists are increasingly tasked with explaining how policy and funding changes affect communities.
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Maryam Bigdeli, a health systems specialist and former World Health Organization representative in Morocco, said in the report that resilient health systems require strong primary healthcare, sustainable financing and accountable governance.
“How health issues are reported shapes public trust, policy prioritisation, and ultimately the strength of health systems,” she said. “Amid shifting global health priorities and financing constraints, African countries must focus on building resilient systems grounded in strong primary healthcare, sustainable financing, and accountable governance.”
Despite the pressures, the study identifies a shift towards more solutions-focused and data-driven reporting that highlights African expertise and local context.
Sheriff Bojang, a journalist with The Africa Report, said reporters were seeking to prioritise local voices and demonstrate how global health developments affect communities on the ground.
“Journalists are eager to tell impactful stories but are often hindered by a lack of resources and access to credible local experts,” he said. “We are moving past simply reporting on Western studies; the priority now is localising global health news to show how it affects our communities.”
The report calls on governments, donors, non-governmental organisations and the private sector to invest in local journalism, improve access to African experts and data, and build long-term partnerships with media to strengthen public health coverage.
FINN Partners, a global communications and marketing agency with operations in Africa, said it aimed to support stronger health storytelling across the continent.