Africa CDC advances health sovereignty agenda with focus on maternal and child health

BENIN — The Africa CDC, in partnership with the African Union Commission, Member States and development partners, has convened a three-day Regional Validation Workshop in Cotonou to strengthen continental action on sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (SRMNCAH).

The workshop brings together government officials, technical experts, and development partners from West, Central, and North Africa to validate findings from the first continental assessment of policies, financing, governance, service delivery, and accountability for sexual and reproductive health.

The findings will inform a continental report intended to support evidence-based policymaking, strengthen accountability, and accelerate efforts to prevent maternal and newborn deaths across Africa.

The meeting also advances Africa CDC’s Africa Health Security and Sovereignty Agenda (AHSS) and supports the African Union Champion for Maternal and Child Health initiative, led by H.E. Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of Tanzania.

The initiative places maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health at the centre of Africa’s health security, resilience and sustainable development efforts.

Focus on African leadership

Delivering opening remarks on behalf of Africa CDC Director General H.E. Dr Jean Kaseya, Dr Alinon Kokou, Regional Director of the Western Africa Regional Coordinating Centre, said stronger reproductive, maternal and child health systems are essential to achieving health sovereignty.

“The future of Africa’s health must be driven by African priorities, African leadership and African institutions,” Dr Kokou said.

He urged Member States and partners to translate evidence into action, increase domestic ownership and strengthen mutual accountability.

Representing the African Union Champion, Hon. Ummy Mwalimu, Head of Secretariat and Advisor to the Tanzanian president, reaffirmed the initiative’s commitment to accelerating maternal and child survival.

She said its roadmap aligns with Agenda 2063, the Africa Health Strategy and the AHSS, while advancing three continental goals: zero preventable maternal deaths, zero preventable newborn deaths and zero unvaccinated children.

Strengthening domestic health systems

Dr Diana Nambatya Nsubuga, Head of Africa CDC’s Division of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, highlighted declining external assistance, rising debt, climate-related shocks and continued reliance on imported health commodities as key challenges to health financing.

She outlined five priorities: strengthening primary healthcare; increasing predictable domestic financing; accelerating digital transformation; expanding local production of medicines, vaccines and diagnostics; and strengthening African leadership in global health.

According to Dr Nsubuga, 53 of the 55 African Union Member States have participated in the assessment. Africa CDC is engaging the remaining countries to achieve full continental representation.

Workshop to guide policy action

The assessment will underpin Africa’s first comprehensive continental report on the policy, financing and health-system factors affecting maternal, newborn and child health outcomes.

The report will help countries strengthen policies, allocate resources and track progress towards continental commitments.

Opening the workshop on behalf of Benin’s government, Mr Enagnon Pétas Akogbeto, Chief of Staff to the Minister of Health, reaffirmed the country’s commitment to health-system reform and sustained investment.

During the workshop, participants will review country findings, validate evidence, identify policy and financing gaps, share best practices and agree on priority actions to improve implementation of high-impact interventions.