Rights-Based Data-Driven Policy era
Paul Farmer articulated a rights-based, justice-centered approach to health that influenced African policy by prioritizing the poor, community engagement, and the social determinants of health. Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General (2006–2017), championed robust health information systems, routine surveillance, and equity-oriented guidelines that guided data-driven priority-setting across African health programs. Rifat Atun advanced health-systems strengthening in Africa, arguing for governance reforms and the use of routine data to guide financing, service expansion, and accountability. During the MDG era, Jeffrey Sachs and other development analysts linked epidemiological data to Africa's development targets, advocating data-informed resource allocation and performance measurement.