While comparative models from other low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) offer valuable insights, it is limiting — and arguably counterproductive — to confine African genomic AMR surveillance strategies to these examples alone. Countries such as India, Brazil, and Colombia did not model their innovations solely on their economic peers; they developed solutions tailored to their own institutional strengths, political dynamics, and health system priorities. Similarly, African countries must be encouraged to draw from the full spectrum of global innovation, including cost-effective models from high-income countries that may offer scalable genomic tools, data platforms, and portable diagnostics. Framing Africa as merely a recipient of “comparable” LMIC solutions overlooks the continent’s rich reservoir of scientific talent, including world-class medical professionals and microbiologists. True progress will come not from imitation, but from bold, adaptive, and African-led innovation, drawing on global best practices without being constrained by economic labels.

I've written a policy brief to further discuss this matter.