As Africa continues to battle multiple health crises, stakeholders at the Africa Health Agenda International Conference (AHAIC 2025) in Kigali, Rwanda, have called for urgent reforms to strengthen the continent’s health systems. The conference, which commenced on Sunday, March 3, 2025, serves as a platform for policymakers, health experts and development partners to discuss sustainable solutions to Africa’s growing healthcare challenges.
With the dual burden of infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), coupled with economic constraints and declining donor funding, leaders at the conference stressed the need for a coordinated, strategic approach to health security, financing, and service delivery.
Organised by Amref Health Africa in partnership with Rwanda’s Ministry of Health, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Africa and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), AHAIC 2025 takes place at a pivotal moment when Africa is grappling with rising health inequalities, fiscal challenges and emerging disease outbreaks.
This year’s three-day conference is themed “Connected for Change: Addressing Socio-Ecological Dynamics of Health” and marks a decade of African-led thought leadership in health policy and innovation. It provides a unique opportunity for high-level discussions, stakeholder engagement, and exploration of digital health innovations to help Africa become more self-reliant in healthcare delivery.
Speaking at the conference, acting regional director at WHO Africa, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu emphasised that Africa’s evolving health challenges require collective action and regional cooperation.
“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 collaborate, because a threat in one country is a threat to the entire region.”
Echoing similar sentiments, CEO of Amref Health Africa, Dr. Githinji Gitahi stressed that Africa’s current health system is inadequate and needs urgent reforms.
“The health system we need is not the one we have today. Urgent reforms are crucial to building a system that is responsive, resilient, and sustainable.”
Gitahi pointed out that economic challenges are limiting Africa’s ability to adequately invest in healthcare, making it necessary to revisit the Alma-Ata Declaration and prioritise primary healthcare (PHC) as the foundation for Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
“PHC remains the most cost-effective and equitable approach to achieving UHC, yet many countries continue to underfund it,” he added.
Despite African leaders’ commitments to increasing health financing, progress has been slow, and many health systems still rely on external funding. Gitahi warned that this dependency raises concerns about sustainability, stressing that domestic resource mobilisation, public-private partnerships and efficient budget allocation are essential for long-term healthcare investments.
Rwanda’s Minister of Health, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana highlighted how Rwanda’s strategic approach to health financing, digital transformation and epidemic preparedness has positioned the country as a leader in tackling emerging health threats.
“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.”
Nsanzimana explained 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.”
Africa’s limited fiscal space remains a major obstacle to achieving comprehensive health system reforms. Experts at AHAIC 2025 emphasised that innovative financing mechanisms are essential to bridging funding gaps.
Chairperson of Amref’s international board of directors, Prof. Charles Okeahalam described the reduction in donor funding as a wake-up call for Africa to take full responsibility for its healthcare systems.
“We must build resilience, prioritize health financing, and develop sustainable, home-grown solutions to address our unique challenges.”
Okeahalam stressed that Africa must look inward for solutions, as reliance on external aid is not a sustainable model for long-term healthcare financing.
As part of the discussions, Ihekweazu reinforced the importance of African-led health innovations, stating that homegrown solutions have proven effective in tackling health crises across the continent.
“The question is no longer whether we have the resources but whether we have the will and courage to act collectively.”
He emphasised the need to leverage digital health solutions such as telemedicine, AI-powered diagnostics, and blockchain-based medical records to improve healthcare delivery and accessibility.
Chief of Staff at Amref Health Africa, Ms. Lolem Ngong noted that AHAIC 2025 serves as a platform for shaping a resilient and self-sustaining health future for Africa.
As the conference progresses, several key themes have emerged, including:
– Strengthening health security through regional collaboration and preparedness
– Investing in PHC as the foundation for resilient health systems
– Leveraging digital health innovations to improve service delivery
– Reforming health financing to ensure sustainability and reduce donor dependency
The conference is expected to yield concrete policy recommendations that will shape Africa’s health agenda in the coming years. Stakeholders remain optimistic that with bold leadership, strategic investments and sustained collaboration, Africa can build a health system that meets the needs of its people and withstands future challenges.
With a focus on regional cooperation, innovative financing, and digital transformation, the AHAIC 2025 conference sets the stage for a new era in African healthcare, where countries take full ownership of their health systems and drive sustainable change.
