From Dependency to Self-Reliance: The Future of Africa’s Health Systems. Insights from AHAIC 2025

The Africa Health Agenda International Conference (AHAIC) 2025 opened with a powerful plenary session titled “Celebrating a Decade of African-led Thought Leadership @AHAIC”, setting the stage for critical conversations on health, economic growth, and leadership in Africa. Hosted by Amref Health Africa, in partnership with the Republic of Rwanda, African Union, Africa CDC, and the World Health Organization (WHO) Africa Region, the session brought together influential leaders to reflect on the past decade and chart the future course for health and development on the continent.

A central theme of the plenary was how Africa’s economic growth and prosperity are deeply tied to investments in health systems. Dr. Githinji Gitahi emphasized that the continent’s health systems should be restructured to prioritize prevention rather than just treatment. As he put it, “Hospitals should be seen as garages for repair, while health is created at home.”This highlights the importance of primary healthcare (PHC), clean water, sanitation, nutrition, and immunization as preventive measures that can significantly reduce future healthcare costs. As a continent, Africa needs to;

• Rethink Health Financing and Self-Sufficiency

With global financing for critical health programs shrinking, the panelists underscored the urgency of domestic health financing. Hon. Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, Rwanda’s Minister of Health, stressed that Africa must move away from reliance on external aid and instead focus on mobilizing domestic resources. Dr. Raji Tajudeen of Africa CDC supported this by advocating for innovative financing mechanisms such as taxation, local manufacturing, and private sector engagement to fill funding gaps. Dr. Gitahi crowned the discussion by stressing the need for Africa to re-think and reorganize its health system to be responsive to the current challenges amidst the changing geopolitical developments. 

• Address Africa’s Double Burden of Disease

Africa is transitioning from infectious diseases to a growing prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer. Panelists highlighted that tackling NCDs require a lifestyle shift, with healthcare workers playing a critical role in community education and behavior change. Preventative health measures, early screening, and leveraging technology were discussed as key strategies to mitigate this growing crisis.

• Recognize the Role of Youth in Driving Change

Young leaders took center stage in discussions about Africa’s future. Oumaima El Idrissi, a Municipal Councillor from Casablanca, Morocco, passionately called on African governments to recognize and empower young innovators who are already creating solutions. She stressed that technology and innovation, particularly in AI and digital health, should be owned and driven by Africans to foster self-reliance. The importance of youth involvement was also reinforced in a fireside chat featuring Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director Emeritus for Africa, who stated, “Young people are the drivers of change and should be given platforms to shape policy and decision-making.”

The recommendations from the discussions for the next decade of African health leadership include;

1. Redesign Health Systems for Sustainability; Governments should focus on prevention-first strategies, strengthening community health systems, and ensuring resilience in the face of geopolitical and economic shifts.
2. Accelerate Domestic Health Financing; African nations must mobilize local resources, explore innovative financing models, and build strong partnerships to reduce dependency on external aid.
3. Empower Youth and Leverage Technology; Africa must invest in young leaders, support homegrown innovations, and harness AI and digital tools to transform healthcare delivery.
4. Address the Double burden of disease: the health system must adapt to provide integrated care for both NCDs and infectious diseases

In summary, there was a call to make AHAIC not just a conference but a movement. Leaders urged continued collaboration, policy advocacy, and bold actions to achieve a healthier and more prosperous Africa. As Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, stated, “Together, we can harness the power of science, leadership, and cooperation for a healthier, safer, and more peaceful Africa and the world.” Dr. Nsanzimana stressed that “the center of Africa’s health system must hold” even with the shift in geopolitical situation. 

The insights from AHAIC 2025 reaffirm that Africa is not just responding to global health challenges—it is leading the way in defining a future where health is the foundation of economic growth, youth are at the forefront of change, and self-reliance replaces dependency. The next decade holds immense potential, and Africa is ready to seize it.

Authors: Saida M. Kassim, Philip Soita Wakoli, Dr. Samuel Muhula