The right to affordable and quality healthcare for all people is the cornerstone of sustainable development. Yet every year, 11 million African citizens are forced into extreme poverty due to catastrophic health costs, perpetuating cycles of poverty and steering populations further away from the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Universal Health Coverage (UHC) – meaning that every person, everywhere, has access to the quality health care they need, without suffering financial hardship – is crucial to improve health outcomes, reduce poverty and fuel economic growth.

Since 2014, Amref Health Africa has been organizing the Africa Health Agenda International Conference (AHAIC), bringing countries across the continent together to discuss African solutions to Africa’s most pressing health challenges. As a prominent Africa-led global health convening, this biennial conference spotlights diverse and dynamic voices from across sectors – ranging from world leaders to technical experts to community health workers – to collectively chart a course forward towards UHC.

The 2021 conference will build off of momentum from 2019, serving as a platform for cross-pollination of ideas and home-grown solutions around attaining UHC in Africa. Capitalizing on prominent partners and speakers, the upcoming AHAIC conference will focus on the greatest health challenges facing Africa and foster new ideas and commitments for tangible, actionable and achievable progress towards UHC.