GENEVA, Switzerland — Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has called for a shift toward Africa-led health innovation and stronger global partnerships, saying the continent must move from being a recipient of solutions to an architect of resilient health systems.
Speaking during a high-level side event at the 79th World Health Assembly, Duale said discussions were built on outcomes from the World Health Summit Regional Meeting held in Nairobi, which he described as a turning point for Africa’s health agenda.
He said the Nairobi meeting demonstrated Africa’s growing capacity to design and implement its own health solutions, particularly in strengthening primary healthcare systems and improving emergency preparedness.
Focus on resilience and community systems
Duale stressed that health system resilience must begin at the community level, drawing lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and climate-related health shocks.
He highlighted Kenya’s ongoing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) rollout and the Taifa Care reforms as key examples of reforms aimed at expanding access to healthcare through digitalisation and community-based delivery systems.
The reforms, he said, are intended to ensure that health services reach households more efficiently and equitably.
Africa as a health innovation hub
The Health CS said Africa is increasingly becoming a hub for digital health solutions, biotechnology, and local manufacturing.
He argued that innovation should be treated as a shared continental resource rather than fragmented national efforts, calling for stronger collaboration in research, development, and health technology adoption.
Duale said Kenya is positioning itself as a regional centre for health innovation and coordination.
Call for implementation and accountability
The CS also urged a shift from policy dialogue to implementation, stressing the need for measurable accountability in global health commitments.
He said stronger cross-sector partnerships are essential to achieving long-term health security across the continent.
“We must move from dialogue to implementation and accountability,” he said, emphasizing Africa’s readiness to contribute meaningfully to global health governance.
