ABSTRACT
This chapter is the introductory chapter to the book Human Security and Epidemics in Africa: Learning from COVID-19, Ebola and HIV and aims to discuss lessons learned within the framework of human security in Africa. In this chapter, the author identified the book’s central themes as reactivity, coordination, and collaboration and applied decision-making theory to human security. The themes are then used as a framework for analysis and reflection to discover the many lessons that can be learned from Africa on how to shape the future security environment of people living in Africa. A synopsis of chapters from various parts of Africa is then related to the main themes of reactivity, coordination, and collaboration to explain how the people of Africa dealt with and are still dealing with pandemics to secure the well-being of people. The book’s main findings are that in a globalised world, the reality of pandemics, political violence, and natural disasters will always be with us, and resilience is about developing networks and communities of inquiry that allow for personal learning beyond self-imposed boundaries and constraints and to participate in decisions in reaction to challenging circumstances.
