As Africa faces multiple health crises, stakeholders at the ongoing Africa Health Agenda International Conference (AHAIC 2025) in Kigali, Rwanda, on Sunday, called for urgent reforms to strengthen the continent’s health systems.
With the dual burden of infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), alongside economic constraints, the stakeholders stressed the need for a coordinated, strategic approach to health security, financing, and service delivery.
The conference is organised by Amref Health Africa in partnership with Rwanda’s Ministry of Health, WHO Africa, and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
It comes at a critical moment as the continent grapples with constrained fiscal resources, rising health inequalities, and emerging disease outbreaks
In Kigali, Rwanda is marking a historic milestone in Africa’s journey toward health resilience.
Under the theme “Connected for Change: Addressing Socio-Ecological Dynamics of Health”, AHAIC 2025 celebrates a decade of African-led thought leadership.
It provides a unique platform for high-level discussions, stakeholder engagement, and exploring cutting-edge innovations to shape a self-reliant Africa amid declining aid and economic challenges.
The conference serves as a vital Africa-led platform to connect the continent with the rest of the world.
Speaking, the Acting Regional Director at the World Health Organisation (WHO) Africa, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu underscored the importance of collective action in tackling Africa’s evolving health challenges.
“In the realm of infectious diseases and health security, there is no room for saying, ‘I will do it alone’.
“We must remain humble and recognise that the threat of infectious diseases still exists.
“It is critical to build on existing structures and, importantly, collaborate as part of our collective interest, because a threat in one country is a threat to the entire region,” Ihekweazu said.
While Africa’s health agenda is closely aligned with global health priorities, we face unique challenges, including the ongoing burden of infectious diseases and the rising threat of NCDs,” said Amref Health Africa CEO, Dr Githinji Gitahi.
“The health system we need is not the one we have today; urgent reforms are crucial to build a system that is responsive, resilient, and sustainable,” Gitahi said.
With economic challenges limiting Africa’s ability to invest adequately in healthcare, Gitahi stressed the need to revisit the Alma-Ata Declaration to strengthen primary healthcare (PHC) as a cornerstone for universal health coverage (UHC).
“To improve our health system, we must address the structural issues within our economic framework. While this is a long-term goal, in the short term, we must return to the fundamentals of primary healthcare.
“PHC remains the most cost-effective and equitable approach to achieving universal health coverage, yet many countries continue to underfund it.”
“Despite commitments from African leaders to prioritise health financing, progress remains slow. Many health systems still rely on donor funding, raising concerns about sustainability,” he said.
According to him, we are facing an economic challenge, particularly with the region’s limited fiscal space,
“We must rethink how we finance healthcare in Africa. Domestic resource mobilization, public-private partnerships, and efficient budget allocation are crucial.”
Rwanda’s approach to health financing, digital transformation, and epidemic preparedness has positioned the country as a leader in tackling emerging health threats.
Rwanda’s Minister of Health, Dr Sabin Nsanzimana, shared insights into how the country had built a strong health system despite economic limitations.
“`One of our key pillars is systems and governance. We focus on answering the question, ‘How do we adapt our health system to our unique context?.
“Rather than copying and pasting models from elsewhere, we believe in creating solutions tailored to our needs,” he said.
He said that Rwanda has significantly increased investment in its health workforce, infrastructure, and digital technology to improve service delivery.
“Investing in our health workforce is a priority, and we are committed to increasing available resources.
“We are also investing in modern equipment and cutting-edge technology, such as AI-powered scans, which should be developed by our young people to address Africa’s unique challenges,” he said.
Africa’s limited fiscal space remains a key challenge in achieving health system reforms. Experts at AHAIC 2025 emphasised the need for innovative financing mechanisms to bridge funding gaps.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Staff at Amref Health Africa, Ms Lolem Ngong highlighted that AHAIC 2025 served as a platform for shaping a resilient and self-sustaining health future for Africa.
The conference is expected to yield concrete policy recommendations that will shape Africa’s health agenda in the coming years.
Stakeholders said they remained optimistic that, with bold leadership, strategic investments, and sustained collaboration, Africa could build a health system that would meet the needs of its people and withstand future challenges.
NAN
