Leaders from several African countries, and the global healthcare and financial sectors are this week gathering in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, for the inaugural World Health Organization Africa Health Forum.
Under the theme: Putting People First, delegates will address Africa’s growing healthcare needs. The impact of climate change – such as drought and flooding – on resources and infrastructure is on the agenda, as well as financing healthcare.
WHO says the Ebola outbreak in West Africa between 2014 and 2016 is an example of the weakness of health systems on the continent.
Thousands of people died during that outbreak, most of them from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Experts argue that many more lives could have been saved had there been a quicker response to the outbreak, as well as more training and equipment to contain the spread.
Over the coming days, delegates will come up with strategies and form partnerships to improve healthcare systems in Africa.
According to WHO’s regional director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti, the continent has the world’s highest hypertension rate, the highest road traffic fatality rate, and the highest pedestrian death rate.
A series of programs related to health financing, digital health, global health security, health research and universal health coverage, will be held during the forum.
