By Iyemah David
African health leaders have intensified calls for stronger health security and sovereignty, as the continent officially launched preparatory activities for the 5th International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA 2026), reinforcing a shared shift from health dependency to resilience and ownership.
The launch webinar, held on Friday, brought together continental stakeholders to co-launch activities for the high-level conference, which is expected to convene policymakers, researchers, development partners, and civil society actors across Africa and beyond.
Speaking during the session, Dr Raj Tajudeen, Deputy Director General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), said Africa’s health transformation agenda is anchored on a deliberate shift “from vulnerability and dependence to ownership and resilience.”
Tajudeen explained that the continental framework guiding this agenda is built on “one agenda, three key questions,” focused on strengthening health systems, expanding prevention, and improving emergency preparedness across member states.
He noted that the platform is designed to strengthen coordination among governments, technical experts, civil society, and the private sector, while also expanding opportunities for inclusive engagement in addressing health challenges across the continent.
He added that civil society participation remains critical, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected settings, while the private sector is expected to play an increasing role in innovation, financing, and service delivery within Africa’s health systems.
The webinar also marked the official co-launch of activities for CPHIA 2026, which is expected to serve as a key milestone in shaping Africa’s public health and resilience agenda.
He expressed appreciation to the Government and people of Ethiopia for hosting the conference, noting that the decision reflects strong confidence in the country’s institutional capacity, infrastructure, and experience in delivering major international events.
Ambassador Hadera Abera, State Minister of Foreign Affairs, said Ethiopia’s selection further underscores its growing role as a continental hub for dialogue in health, education, and development, citing its track record in hosting high-level global engagements and fostering international cooperation.
Abara added that the conference comes at a critical moment in Africa’s health and security landscape, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed systemic vulnerabilities but also strengthened collaboration under the African Union framework.
Meanwhile, the 2026 CPHIA organisers emphasised that lessons from recent global health emergencies have reinforced the urgency of building more resilient health systems and improving coordinated responses to public health threats across Africa.
Discussions during the launch also highlighted Africa’s broader transition from vulnerability to resilience, with leaders calling for stronger systems to address public health emergencies, security challenges, and structural development gaps.
They repeatedly underscored the need for coordinated action involving governments, development partners, research institutions, the private sector, civil society, youth groups, and academia to achieve sustainable impact.
The organisers further pointed to the growing importance of technology and digital innovation in strengthening governance, health systems, and development outcomes, stressing that Africa must continue to harness innovation to close existing gaps and improve preparedness for future crises.
The conference is expected to generate strategic recommendations aimed at strengthening institutional cooperation and reinforcing Africa’s role in shaping global health and development discourse, building on previous international commitments and regional frameworks.
At the heart of its terms of reference is the responsibility to facilitate structured dialogue between policymakers, politicians, scientists, and programme implementers.
This cross-sector engagement is designed to bridge the gap between research, policy formulation, and on-the-ground implementation, ensuring that discussions move beyond theory into actionable solutions that respond to real health system needs across African Union Member States.
A key function of the scientific committee is to develop strong, timely, and relevant conference themes that reflect Africa’s evolving public health priorities.
These themes are expected to capture pressing issues such as health security, epidemic preparedness, primary healthcare strengthening, and innovation in service delivery.
Beyond theme setting, the committee also guides the generation and review of scientific abstracts submitted to the conference, ensuring that the knowledge showcased is of high quality, policy-relevant, and reflective of current research, innovations, and programme implementation experiences across the continent and beyond.
Health Reporters, reports that the 5th International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA 2026) will take place from November 23rd to 27th, 2026 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Co-hosted by the Africa CDC and the Government of Ethiopia, the conference will convene 30,000 participants, including. political leaders, policymakers, researchers, innovators, civil society, and youth to define Africa’s pathway toward stronger, more resilient health systems and reduced dependence on foreign aid.
CPHIA is a vital part of ongoing efforts by African countries and the Africa CDC to build stronger, self-reliant health systems. It provides an important platform for leaders, public health experts, and communities to come together to reimagine and transform health financing, ensuring Africa’s health security is driven by African leadership, innovation, and partnerships.
As noted by. Dr Jean Kaseya, Director-General of Africa CDC, said that the conference represents a strategic opportunity to accelerate continental health transformation through coordinated leadership, stronger institutions, and sustainable investment in health systems.
By aligning scientific dialogue with policy priorities and implementation realities, the SPC helps ensure that CPHIA continues to serve as a credible continental platform for advancing Africa’s health security agenda.
