Health officials have called for improved public health institutions and workforce for the African continent to be competent in driving its own health solutions.

This was shared during the launch of the 2nd International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA) slated for December 2022.

Organised by the African Union and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the meeting brings together health experts, researchers, government officials, and policymakers to discuss health challenges the continent faces and chart a way forward for the new public health order.

The AU’s New Public Health Order calls for continental collaboration to bolster African manufacturing capacity for vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics; strengthen public health institutions for people-centred care; expand the public health workforce; establish respectful, action-oriented partnerships; and engage with the private sector.

Ahmed Ogwell Ouma, Deputy Director of Africa CDC, said that the Africa Medicine Agency, as well as other national level institutions that are dealing with health security on the continent should be given the right leadership, support, and provided with space to be able to work.

A panel discussion of health experts, researchers, government officials, and policymakers  discuss health challenges that the continent faces and chart a way forward for the new public health order.

He also said that efforts should be invested in strengthening the workforce, "all professionals who are contributing to the health security agenda on the continent…through developing their capacity, increasing their number and providing them with the right tools for the work.”

Ouma reiterated the need to build national regulatory frameworks, ensure that the Africa Medicine Agency is functioning effectively, and take responsibility for every health product that is going to be used on the continent.

"As Africans, we are the only continent that relies on other entities to tell us that the medication we are about to have is safe, that the gloves we are about to use are sanctified, that the masks we are about to wear are of good quality. We need to change that.”

Prof Agnes Binagwaho, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Global Health Equity and Co-Chair of CPHIA said that the issue of health personnel who are educated and trained in Africa and in the end work for other continents, should be reflected on and secure a workforce for saving Africans.

Officials in a group photo after launching   the 2nd International Conference on Public Health in Africa in Kigali on May 5. Craish Bahizi

Prof Senait Fisseha, Director of Global Programmes at the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation and Chief Advisor to the Director General of the World Health Organisation, said that the past years have shown that whenever national or regional health systems are strained, the most affected are the marginalised including women and girls.

"That should inspire us to work even harder in designing bolder African solutions centring the most marginalised in order to improve health care for all.”

Rwanda’s Health Minister, Daniel Ngamije, said that from the CPHIA 2022, they expect achievements regarding advancing service on the continent.

"There is a need for long-term investment in research and health facility infrastructure, strategic partnerships for building resilient health systems that not only deal with emergency and pandemics but also assure continuity of essential health service.”