African health ministers meet to tackle challenges

By Damilola Samuel Health ministers from 47 African countries have begun discussions in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on measures to strengthen healthcare systems and improve the continent’s response to emerging health challenges. The three-day meeting, which opened on Tuesday, is the 76th session of the World Health Organisation Regional Committee for Africa and brings together health ministers, government officials, development partners and health experts. The meeting is expected to produce decisions that will influence health policies and investments across the region in the coming year.

One of the major issues before the ministers is how African countries can secure more sustainable funding for healthcare at a time when many countries are dealing with limited resources and growing health needs. The ministers will also consider the Africa Health Workforce Agenda 2026–2035, which is aimed at helping countries train, employ and retain more health workers. Opening the session, Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie called for African countries to rely more on their own capacity and strengthen cooperation rather than continue depending heavily on external support.

“Africa’s next health chapter must be defined by ownership over dependency, integration over fragmentation and practical action over words,” he said. Ethiopia’s Minister of Health, Dr Mekdes Daba, said the continent must prepare its health systems for challenges ranging from climate change and emerging technologies to demographic changes, health inequalities and complex emergencies. The issue of health security is also high on the agenda as African countries continue to face outbreaks and other public health emergencies.

The ministers are expected to consider a framework for strengthening national emergency medical teams so that countries can respond more quickly when outbreaks, disasters and other emergencies occur. The discussions come as the Democratic Republic of Congo battles its largest Ebola outbreak, highlighting the need for countries to maintain the capacity to detect and respond to infectious disease threats. The ministers will also examine proposals aimed at protecting Africa’s progress in the fight against polio by maintaining surveillance systems, laboratories, trained personnel and emergency response structures developed during the eradication campaign.

WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr…