Amref Health Africa at the 79th World Health Assembly
18–23 May 2026 · Geneva ·
#WHA79 #AmrefAtWHA79

The 79th World Health Assembly (WHA79) comes at a defining moment for global health. As countries grapple with shrinking aid, widening inequities, climate-related health threats, and growing pressure on health systems, conversations are increasingly shifting from dependency to sovereignty, from fragmented responses to resilient systems, and from crisis management to long-term health production. Against this backdrop, Amref Health Africa will participate in WHA79 to amplify African-led solutions and help shape a new vision for global health—one grounded in equity, primary health care, prevention, community systems, sustainable financing, innovation, and local leadership.

 

Through a series of high-level side events and strategic dialogues in Geneva, Amref Health Africa will convene policymakers, global health leaders, civil society, private sector actors, and development partners to explore practical pathways for strengthening health systems across Africa. From sustainable financing for primary health care and integrated service delivery to women’s health innovation, digital transformation, and global health reform, these engagements will spotlight how Africa can build resilient, people-centred systems that not only respond to disease but produce health through empowered communities, stronger local systems, and country-led action.

As Africa looks ahead to the Africa Health Agenda International Conference (AHAIC) 2027, these engagements form part of a broader continental movement to reposition Africa not as a recipient of solutions, but as a leader in shaping the future of global health.

Featured Side Events

Event 01

Launch of Amref Health Africa Switzerland

18 May 2026 | 19:00 – 21:00

Amref Health Africa will officially launch Amref Health Africa Switzerland, a new liaison office established to strengthen strategic engagement and collaboration with partners, donors, philanthropic institutions, and global health actors in Switzerland. The office will serve as a platform for advancing partnerships, innovation, resource mobilisation, and collective action towards resilient, equitable, and African-led health systems transformation.

● Invites Only
Event 02

Smart Financing and Integrated Care as Pathways to People-Centered Universal Health Coverage

A high-level discussion exploring how smart financing and integrated primary health care can catalyse country-led reforms for more equitable and resilient Universal Health Coverage systems across Africa and Asia.

Event 03

Innovative, Sustainable Financing of Primary Healthcare Services Through Social Health Insurance

A strategic dialogue examining how countries across Africa are leveraging Social Health Insurance to strengthen primary health care and community health systems through strategic purchasing, pooling reforms, and sustainable domestic financing.

Event 04

Innovation for Women’s Health in Africa: Leveraging Technology to Advance Maternal Health and Address Women’s Cancers

Convened in partnership with GE HealthCare

This session will explore how technology, AI, and digital innovation can improve maternal health outcomes and strengthen women’s cancer care across Africa through scalable, system-integrated solutions.

Will you be attending #WHA79 in Geneva and interested in joining this conversation? This is a closed session, but we welcome expressions of interest and will consider a limited number of additional participants. Write to us via: [email protected]

Event 05

Community-Led Health Systems: Lessons from Coalition-Driven Change

Tuesday May 19th 2026 | 2:00 – 4:00 PM | Warwick Geneva

This session explores how community-led coalitions are driving meaningful change in health systems, sharing lessons on what works when communities lead the conversation on their own health.

Meet the Amref Team at WHA79

Dr Githinji Gitahi

Group CEO, Amref Health Africa

Guglielmo Micucci

Chief Fundraising and Communications Officer

Anne Gitimu

Programme Director, RMNCAH, Amref Health Africa Kenya

Dr Rahul S Reddy Kadarpeta

Executive Director, Joint Learning Network for UHC

Chiara Polti

Focal Point, Amref Switzerland

Aloise Gikunda

Program Manager – PHC and CHS, Amref Health Africa Kenya

Rachel Erskine

Global Marketing Communications Manager, Amref Health Africa

Other Speakers

Dr Anuska Kalita

Director of the Health Systems Reform Program at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Dr Saguntala Selvamani

Public Health Medicine Specialist with the Ministry of Health Malaysia.

Dr. Uzoma Nwankwo

Secretary and Head of Secretariat of Nigeria’s Ministerial Oversight Committee for the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).

Join the Conversation

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