Connected for Change
2 – 5 March, 2025
Kigali Convention Center,
Rwanda
Conference Report
Output Paper – Global Health Architecture Reform – Africa Regional Dialogue
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UETfuBLeQBg
The Africa Health Agenda International Conference (AHAIC 2025), held in Kigali, Rwanda, from March 2–5, marked a monumental milestone—a decade of Africa-led thought leadership in health. At a time when global health funding is on a continuous decline and Africa contends with a growing disease burden, AHAIC 2025 stood as a beacon of hope and action as one of Africa’s largest and most influential public health forums. This year’s theme, “Connected for Change: Addressing the Social and Ecological Dynamics of Health,” provided an energizing platform for reimagining Africa’s health future through collaboration, innovation, and sustainable solutions. Together, we explored groundbreaking ways to build a resilient and self-sustaining healthcare future for Africa.
AHAIC 2025 Gallery
Day 1 Highlights
Day 2 Highlights
Day 3 Highlights
Be Inspired by Global Leaders and Local Champions
Gain exclusive insights from an extraordinary line-up of visionaries, including global leaders and local experts. Discover fresh perspectives on the most pressing health issues of our time as per the sub-themes below:
• Climate and Health
• Research Innovation & Technology
• Health Financing
• Human Behavior
• Health Indicators in Fragile Settings
• Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
• Politics and Governance
• Localization
• Meaningful Youth Engagement
Champion Your Agenda
Here’s your platform to make your agenda known. Advocate for transformative policies, influence decision-makers, and drive sustainable health investments. Your voice will be amplified by data-driven, evidence-based approaches, ensuring your calls for action are credible, compelling, and impossible to ignore.
Engage with Africa’s Next Generation of Leaders
Witness the brilliance and energy of youth leaders as they lead the charge for a better future. This is your opportunity to join a movement shaped by their commitment to:
• Better Governance
• Accountability & Transparency
• Innovation & Technology
• Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
Build Powerful Networks
Forge invaluable connections with African thought leaders, issue experts, and change-makers from across the continent and beyond. These connections don’t end with the event—they’re catalysts for future collaborations. Join a community of like-minded individuals and organizations who are deeply committed to action, not just talk.
AHAIC 2025 in Numbers
Online Participants
2
+
Registered Delegates
2
+
Countries Represented
1
+
Speakers
1
+
Learn More
key Insights & Outcomes
Key insights and outcomes from AHAIC 2025 underscored the urgent need for:
- Strengthening African leadership and ownership to drive the continent’s health agenda and build self-reliance.
- Prioritising and investing in primary health care (PHC) as the foundation for achieving universal health coverage (UHC).
- Advancing health equity, diversity, and inclusion by addressing systemic barriers and ensuring meaningful engagement of all stakeholders.
- Harnessing innovation, technology, and digital health to transform health systems and improve access to care.
- Addressing the climate and health nexus through integrated policies and dedicated resources.
- Fostering robust partnerships and collaboration across sectors and borders to amplify impact.
- Ensuring sustainable and equitable health financing through increased domestic resource mobilisation and innovative mechanisms.
Initiatives Launched
Africa Clinical Research Network (ACRN)
The official launch of the Africa Clinical Research Network (ACRN) was announced at an evening reception on March 3, 2025. The launch was attended by high-profile speakers including Dr. Tariro Makadzange, CEO, ACRN; Dr. Wilfred Gurupira, Alliance and Partnerships Director, ACRN; Prof. Claude Mambo Muvunyi, Director General, Rwanda Biomedical Centre, and the Minister of State for Health, Rwanda, Hon. Dr. Yvan Butera. ACRN aims to connect researchers to opportunities, enhance capacity in existing facilities, and implement high-quality trials.
African Health Research, Innovation & Development Alliance (AHRIDA)
The African Health Research, Innovation & Development Alliance (AHRIDA) was officially launched on March 3, 2025, during a parallel session on African-led research, development and innovation (RD&I) hosted by Amref Health Africa and the Gates Foundation. AHRIDA is a pan-African movement for advocacy in health research, development, and innovation. It was established to champion African-led health RD&I as a significant economic driver on the continent and a contributor to advancements in global health.
Two Conferences Connected
AHAIC 2025 saw the first-ever live connection of two prominent African and European conferences: the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) Ideas Lab 2025 in Brussels, Belgium, and AHAIC 2025 in Kigali, Rwanda. CEPS is committed to improving EU-Africa relations and joint initiatives for research and innovation. Watch the video here.
Watch Video
Quotes
Co-conveners
Platinum Partners
Gold Partners
Silver Partners
CSO Partners
Exhibitor Partners
Media Partners
Co-hosts
Dr. Githinji Gitahi
Group CEO, Amref Health Africa
Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana
The Minister of Health, Rwanda.
Dr. Chikwe Andreas Ihekweazu
Acting Regional Director, WHO Regional Office for Africa
H.E Dr. Jean Kaseya
Director General, Africa-Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
AHAIC 2025 Speakers
Dr. Matshidiso Moeti
Regional Director Emeritus, WHO Regional Office for Africa
Prof. Dr. Charles Okeahalam
Chairperson, Amref Health Africa International Board of Directors
Dr. Magda Robalo
President and Co-founder, IGHD
Dr. Ebere Okereke
Chief Program Officer, Reaching the Last Mile Foundation
Ms. Oumaima El Idrissi
City Councillor and Member of Mayor’s Cabinet, City of Casablanca
Dr. Adelheid Onyango
Director, Universal Health Coverage/Healthier Populations, WHO AFRO
Dr. Ngozi Erondu
Technical Director, Global Institute for Disease Elimination
Ms. Cecilia Kinuthia-Njenga
ISCP Director, UNFCCC
Dr Raji Tajudeen
Acting Deputy Director General and Head, Division of Public Health Institutes and Research, Africa CDC
Maturin Tchoumi
Pharma International Area Head for Africa, Roche
Dr. Kalahn Taylor-Clark
Vice President, Social Impact and Sustainability, MSD
Gerishom Gimaiyo
Director of Health in the Africa Regional Office, The Rockefeller Foundation.
Ms. Rumbidzai Chisenga
Chief Executive Officer, The Leadership Lab
Dr. Mariam Dahir
Senior Program Officer,
Women in Global Health
Dr. Abebe Genetu
Coordinator, Platform for Harmonized African Health Products Manufacturing (PHAHM), Africa CDC
Dr. Yaw Bediako
Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Yemaachi Biotech
Dr. Claudia Shilumani,
Director of External Relations and Strategic Management, Africa CDC
Desta Lakew
Group Director of Partnerships and External Affairs, Amref Health Africa
Prof Joachim Osur
Vice Chancellor, Amref International University
Caroline Mbindyo
Chief Innovation Officer, Amref Health Africa.
Dr. Marina Romanello
Executive Director, Lancet Countdown
Dr. Emilia Connolly
Health Systems Policy Advisor, Ministry of Health, Malawi
Lolem Ngong
Chief of Staff & Interim Group Programmes Director, Amref Health Africa
Dr. Sofonias Tessema,
Program Lead – Pathogen Genomics, Africa CDC
Dr. Nicaise Ndembi
Deputy Director General, Africa Regional Office,
International Vaccine Institute
Maureen Kolenyo
Regional Director – East Africa, World Bicycle Relief
Dr. Landry Tsague Dongmo
Director of Primary Health Care, Africa CDC
Mr. Maarten Oranje
Expert Health and Education Systems, Cordaid
Dr. Martin Muchangi
Progam Director, Amref Health Africa
Anthony Gitau
Director Global Community Impact Sub Sahara Africa, Johnson & Johnson
Awa Dieng
Regional Director, Amref Health Africa, West Africa Hub
Gerald Manthalu
Director of Planning and Policy Development, Ministry of Health Malawi
Dr. Gloria Maimela
Deputy CEO, Foundation for Professional Development
Mr. Zwelethu Bashman
Managing Director, MSD sub-Saharan Africa
Dr. Samuel Oti
Senior Program Specialist, Canada’s International Development Research Centre
Dr. Mosoka Papa Fallah,
Acting Director Science, Research and Innovation, Africa CDC
Ms. Melissa Wanda
Advocacy & Policy Kenya Country Manager,
PATH
Mr. Abraham Megentta
Country Director, Last Mile Health
Mrs. Emily Katarikawe
Executive Director, Innovation Program for Community Transformation (InPact)
Dr. Caleb Mike Mulongo
Health Financing Specialist, Tunu Consulting Hub
Dr. Teresa Soop
Senior Research Advisor, Embassy of Sweden in Rwanda
Mr. Subin Adhikari
Chair – Communications Cross Cutting Working Group, Neglected Tropical Diseases NGO Network
Dr. Nneka Mobisson
Cofounder & CEO, mDoc Healthcare
Ms. Jackie Katana
Founder and Executive Director, Faith For Family Health Initiative-3FHi
Mrs. Dorcas Hadzizi
Strategic Policy Planning and Donor Coordination Officer, Ministry of Health and Child Care
Ms. Cynthia Kahumbura
Co-Executive Director, Jacaranda Health
Dr. Corine Karema
Director of Malaria & NTDs, Global Health, Quality & Equity Healthcare
Dr. Halima Twabi
Associate Professor, University of Malawi, School of Applied and Natural Sciences
Dr. Yewande Alimi,
AMR and One Health Unit Lead, Africa CDC
Dr. Tirune Amsalu Baye
Technical Officer, Public Health Workforce Development
Workforce Unit, Division of public health institute and research, Africa CDC
Mr. Samy Ahmar
Head of Global Health
Organisation: Save the Children
Dr. Sheila Macharia
Managing Director, FP2030 East and Southern Africa Regional Hub
Dr. Edgar Kalimba
Deputy CEO, Senior consultant Paediatrician, King Faisal Hospital/ Africa Health Sciences University
Prof. STEPHEN Ombok MUHUDHIA
Consultant Paediatrician and Bioethics Specialist, The Nairobi Hospital
Ms. Serah Makka
Executive Director, Africa, ONE
Dr. Alice Lakati
Director, Research, Innovation and Community Extension, Amref International University
Dr. Seth Berkley
Senior Advisor, The Pandemic Center, Brown University
Mr. Legesse Kidanne
Secretariat Director, CCRDA
Prof Bitange Ndemo
Kenya’s Ambassador to Belgium and Mission to the European Union
Dr. Bright Gameli Mawudor
CEO, CyberGuard Africa; Founder, AfricaHackOn
Modi Mwatsama
Head of Climate and Health Field Building, Wellcome Trust Foundation
Malick Antoine
Principal Investment Officer, International Finance Corporation (IFC)
Flavia Tumusiime
Moderator
Mr. Lemma Desu
Projects M&E Team Leader,
Oromia Regional Health Bureau
Dr. Lydia Dsane-Selby
Former CEO, NHIA, Ghana
Laura Ferguson
Associate Professor of Population & Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California
Prof. Flavia Senkubvuge
Deputy Dean Stakeholder Relations, University of Pretoria
Mr. Aloise Gikunda
Program Manager, Amref Health Africa in Kenya
Dr. Josephine Gakii Gatua
Principal Health Economist, Africa CDC
Anna-Maria Mbwette
Partner, Bridgespan Africa
Eliya Zulu
Executive Director, African Institute for Development Policy-AFIDEP
Ms. Idah Mumba
Community Health Worker, Zambia
Amath Pathe
Managing Director, AFS Forum/AGRA
Nontsikelelo Mazibuko
Consultant, Loncama Group
Ms. Corazon Aquino
Partnership Manager, Amref Health Africa
Abraham Mathai
Country Manager, Africa Improved Foods Rwanda Limited
Dr Stellah Bosire
Executive Director, Africa Center for Health Systems and Gender Justice
Emmanuela Alimlim
Program Lead, Special Programs & Health, Mastercard Foundation
Dr. Samukeliso Dube
Executive Director, FP2030
Ms. Caroline Rotich
Youth Champion Adherence Counsellor and Journalist
Dr. Florence Temu
Country Director, Amref Health Africa in Tanzania
Samson Kuhora
Head, Planning and Linkages, NHIF Kenya
Lister Banda
Project Officer, Amref Health Africa, Zambia
Henry Mulenga
Executive Director – Vision Outreach Zambia (VOZ)
Ms. Angela Nguku
Founder and Executive Director, White Ribbon Alliance
Dr. Maria Neira
Director of the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health, World Health Organisation
Mrs. Cinthia Costa Sixpence
Advocacy Coordinator – Health and Hygiene & NVF Project Lead, WaterAid
Mr. Maurice Kwizera
Regional Programme Director – East Africa, WaterAid
Mrs. Vestine Mukeshimana
Country Director, WaterAid
Dr. Claudette Diogo
National Family Planning Programme Manager (Ag) in the Ghana Health Service.
Ms. Buyiswa Lizzie Sithole
IPC Specialist, ICAN
Mr. Henry Kilonzo
Senior Manager – Foundations Programmes,
Safaricom PLC – Safaricom & MPESA Foundations
Boniface Mbuthia
Acting Technical Director Healthcare Financing, Amref Health Africa
Aaron Ogunde
Co-Founder & CEO,
Jiji Health
Ms. Rovinnah Maureen
Strategic Partnerships Manager, Amref Health Africa
Professor Wilfred Ndifon
Chief Scientific Officer & Centre President, AIMS Research & Innovation
Sylvia Nyaga
Co-Founder Syna Consultancy
Hakim Kooka
Founder & CEO, MariTest
Professor Nhlanhla Thwale
Provost of the African Leadership University (ALU) and Vice Chancellor of ALU Rwanda,
Prof. Nikola Biller-Andorno
Director Institute of Biomedical Ethics and History of Medicine, University of Zurich
Ms. Mercy Mumo
Communications Manager, Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi)
Dr. Yamanya Tembo
AMR Policy Consultant, ReAct Africa
Dr. Fungai Mettler
Director, Social Impact and Sustainability, EEMEA, MSD
Mr. Nuits Balnéaires
Visual artist, Partner with Unlimit Health
Dr. Michael Makanga
Executive Director, Global Health EDCTP3
Dr. Elize Willenburg
Executive Manager Formulation Innovation and R&D Operations, Afrigen Biologics
Ruth Ngechu
Director Advocacy, Pathfinder International
Dr Lucy A Chimoyi
Epidemiologist, The Aurum Institute
Luke Kanyang’areng’
Nurse, Kanyarkwat Health Centre, West Pokot County
Dr. Viviane OKE
Founder ELLES APP
Dr. Penina Lam
Senior Director of International Relations at the University of Toronto, Director Africa Health Collaborative
Mrs. Alida Ngwije
Discussant, Clinton Health Access Initiative
Dr. Githinji Gitahi
Group CEO, Amref Health Africa
Dr. Matshidiso Moeti
Regional Director for Africa, World Health Organization (WHO)
H.E Dr. Jean Kaseya
Director General, Africa-Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana
The Minister of Health, Rwanda.
Dr. Magda Robalo
President and Co-founder, IGHD
Dr. Magda Robalo
President and Co-founder, IGHD
Dr. Githinji Gitahi
Group CEO, Amref Health Africa
Dr. Matshidiso Moeti
Regional Director for Africa, World Health Organization (WHO)
H.E Dr. Jean Kaseya
Director General, Africa-Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana
The Minister of Health, Rwanda.
Dr. Magda Robalo
President and Co-founder, IGHD