President John Dramani Mahama is attending the opening ceremony of the African Union Extraordinary Summit on Health at the Alisa Hotel in Accra, as Ghana hosts a landmark continental gathering focused on shaping the future of healthcare in Africa.
The high-level summit has brought together African Heads of State and Government, policymakers, health experts, development partners and key stakeholders to forge a united response to some of the continent’s most pressing public health challenges.
Held under the theme, “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,”
The summit aims to strengthen political commitment and accelerate coordinated action towards achieving universal health coverage across Africa.
Participants are expected to deliberate on strategies to end AIDS and tuberculosis by 2030, reduce preventable maternal and child mortality, address the rising burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases, combat neglected tropical diseases and build resilient, sustainable health systems capable of responding effectively to future health emergencies.
The summit also provides a platform for African leaders to deepen collaboration, mobilise resources and adopt innovative, African-led solutions that will improve health outcomes and expand access to quality healthcare services across the continent.
As host of the Extraordinary Summit, Ghana is reaffirming its commitment to advancing regional cooperation in health and promoting policies that place equity, resilience and universal access to healthcare at the centre of Africa’s development agenda.
The outcomes of the summit are expected to inform a renewed continental framework for health financing, disease prevention and healthcare delivery, while strengthening partnerships among African governments, regional institutions and international development partners in pursuit of a healthier and more prosperous Africa.
Story: Patrick Asford Boadu
