Allergy and immunology specialists across Africa are calling for allergic diseases to be recognized as a public health priority, warning that millions of people are living with conditions that remain underdiagnosed and poorly managed across the continent.
Marking World Allergy Week 2026, the African Alliance for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (AFRICALLI) said conditions such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, eczema, food allergies, drug allergies and inherited immune disorders are placing a growing burden on health systems, families and economies.
The alliance said these conditions contribute to school absenteeism, lost productivity, avoidable hospital admissions and, in severe cases, preventable deaths.
Despite this, allergy care remains largely absent from national health plans, specialist training programmes and essential medicines lists in many African countries.
“Allergic diseases are among the most common chronic conditions in the world and Africa is not exempt,” said Prof. Mike Levin, founding president of AFRICALLI and head of paediatric allergy at the University of Cape Town.
“What is different here is the system around the patient. We have committed healthcare professionals and growing national societies, but in most African countries allergy care is still treated as optional.”
AFRICALLI was established to strengthen education, research, clinical standards and advocacy in allergy and immunology. The alliance brings together clinicians, researchers and patient advocates from more than 20 African countries.
Experts say access to allergy care remains limited across much of the continent because of shortages of trained specialists, diagnostic services and essential medicines. Patients often face difficulties accessing inhalers, antihistamines, adrenaline auto-injectors and other treatments.
As a result, allergic conditions are frequently diagnosed late or misdiagnosed, increasing the risk of severe complications.
The alliance is urging governments and health ministries to integrate allergy and clinical immunology into national health strategies, strengthen training for healthcare workers, improve access to diagnostics and medicines, and invest in research to better understand the burden of disease in Africa.
AFRICALLI also called for stronger food-labelling regulations, improved consumer protections and safer environments for children living with food allergies.
“When allergies are properly diagnosed and managed, people are safer medically and can live, learn and work with greater confidence,” said Dr. Evelyn Nganga, president of the Allergy Society of Kenya and AFRICALLI vice president for communication and member engagement.
She said greater investment in healthcare workers, public awareness and patient-centred care could significantly improve outcomes for people living with allergic diseases.
The alliance plans to continue advocating for stronger allergy services across Africa and will convene its next continental congress in Accra, Ghana, in November 2026.
