While the security of a community or state is undermined directly or indirectly if its individuals have poor health, the state-centric violence paradigm failed to include public health problems such as epidemics and its aftermaths. Through a review of member states’ health care systems of the Mano River Union (MRU) in West Africa, this book articulates nicely the challenges related to leadership and governance; health workforce; medical products, vaccines and technologies; information; financing; and services delivery in the sub-region. From a human security perspective, the book, grounded in rich empirical illustrations, demonstrates that protecting and empowering the populations is vital to accomplishing and preserving their utmost level of health and well-being and calls therefore for creative ways to realize, protect, enforce and promote the right to health.

Mathurin Houngnikpo, The Africa Center for Strategic Studies, National Defense University

Mohamed Camara has produced a thorough, comprehensive, and timely exposition of the "health and human security" concept. He produces much evidence that supports the idea that we ought to adopt a truly interdisciplinary perspective, and with that a regional approach, to understand contemporary Africa.

Akwasi Osei, Delaware State University