AU Health Summit Opens in Accra, Urges Stronger Systems and Financing

Accra is hosting a significant two-day African Union (AU) summit focused on health, bringing together leaders to address critical challenges and accelerate progress towards universal health coverage across the continent.

The summit's core objectives include speeding up efforts to end AIDS by 2030, drastically reducing preventable maternal deaths, and tackling both communicable and non-communicable diseases that are endemic to Africa. A key call from the proceedings is for African nations to bolster their health systems and increase domestic funding for healthcare, ensuring sustainable and predictable resources.

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sustainable healthcare could only be achieved through predictable domestic resources and stronger regional cooperation.

During the ministerial phase, Mr. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Ghana's Minister of Health, emphasized the need for self-reliance in healthcare financing. He highlighted that while Africa has made strides in reducing HIV infections, major challenges persist, particularly concerning maternal healthcare. He noted that Africa accounts for nearly 70% of global maternal deaths, with approximately 200,000 women dying annually from preventable causes. The continent's universal health coverage service index stands at 44, far below the global average of 71, indicating significant gaps in access to quality healthcare.

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Africa accounted for almost 70 per cent of global maternal deaths, with nearly 200,000 women dying annually from preventable pregnancy-related causes.

Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director-General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), urged stronger African leadership in health security. He warned about the potential for the current Ebola outbreak to become the worst on record if immediate action is not taken. Dr. Kaseya called for increased investment in health systems, local pharmaceutical manufacturing, and improved accountability in resource utilization to reduce reliance on external support.

The summit, themed "Advancing Justice, Equity and Universal Health Coverage: Ending AIDS, TB, Improving Maternal Health, Addressing Endemic Non-Communicable and Neglected Tropical Diseases and Conditions in Africa," is expected to culminate in key decisions and a declaration from heads of state and government on the continent's health priorities.

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The current Ebola outbreak could become the worst ever recorded if urgent action is not taken.