By Iyemah David
The fourth International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA 2025) has opened in Durban, with African leaders, scientists, and global health partners reaffirming their commitment to building self-reliant and resilient health systems across the continent.
The CPHIA 2025, opens on Thursday in Durban, South Africa, under the theme “Moving Towards Self-Reliance to Achieve Universal Health Coverage and Health Security in Africa”.
The four-day event brings together over 20 countries and representatives from organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the Global Fund.
The conference, hosted by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in collaboration with the Government of South Africa and AfricaBio’s BIO Africa Convention, serves as a key platform for African-led solutions in healthcare innovation, policy, and research.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr Jean Kaseya, Director-General of Africa CDC, said Africa was redefining its role in global health.
“For the first time, Africa is inspiring the world. The world is coming to learn from Africa. We are 1.4 billion proud Africans making our own agenda,” he said.
Dr Joe Phaahla, South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Health, urged delegates to translate discussions into concrete actions that promote equity and social justice.
“Every decision we take here must move us closer to health equity, economic inclusion and social justice.
“Through African leadership and global solidarity, we can build a future where our health systems are powered and sustained by Africans themselves,” he said.
President of AfricaBio, Dr Nhlanhla Msomi, highlighted the need to strengthen Africa’s innovation ecosystem.
“Our healthcare industry still relies on borrowed technologies and ideas. We must decouple from that dependence if we are to win the battle for health sovereignty,” Msomi noted.
This year’s conference, the third to be hosted by South Africa since CPHIA’s inception in 2021, comes ahead of the G20 Health Ministers’ Meeting under South Africa’s presidency in November.
An outcome statement from the conference will outline strategic directions for advancing Africa’s health security and universal health coverage.
Key discussions at CPHIA 2025 focus on strengthening health financing and accountability, advancing digital health and telemedicine, local vaccine production, and integrating climate resilience and One Health approaches to tackle emerging threats.
Experts said that by fostering collaboration among policymakers, researchers, and private sector leaders, CPHIA 2025 aims to accelerate Africa’s journey toward health self-reliance, ensuring no community is left behind.
At the close of the conference on Saturday, participants are expected to adopt an outcome statement shaping the continent’s next phase in health development.
