AMREF Health Africa and Rwanda Ministry of Health co-hosted the First-Ever Global Conference Focusing on universal health coverage in Africa, and on health for all to the elimination of gender-based violence, which is a WHO top priority. The conference brought together 1 200 participants from 35 countries, including health ministers, private sector leaders, civil society and representatives from multilateral organizations to chart a road map to achieve universal health coverage across Africa by 2030.

Speakers at the opening ceremony included Dr Diane Gashumba, Minister of Health of Rwanda and Guest of Honour; Dr Githinji Gitahi, Group CEO AMREF Health Africa; Professor Philippe Cotton Vice Chancellor University of Rwanda. From the World Health Organization, Dr Tedros Adhanom Gebreyesus, Director General via  video; Dr Ian Askew, Director of Department for Reproductive Health and Research; Giorgio di Cometto, Coordinator Human Resources for Health Policies and Standards and finally, the Head of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS, Dr Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS Executive Director also Under Secretary General of the United Nations.

On the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa’s side (AFRO), Dr Felicitas Zaiwara, Director of the Family and Reproductive Health Cluster reminded that in 2018 WHO had launched its business case for immunization in Africa, an agenda running until 2030 under which the organization would give targeted support to countries with weak immunization systems. She also underlined the key role of other stakeholders and partners such as non-government organizations, donors and other United Nations agencies in insuring that children in Africa do not miss life-saving vaccines during this process.

Many of the stakeholders noted Rwanda’s determination in expanding health coverage through its near-universal health care system, its investments in strengthening primary health care and the community health workforce. Both have been instrumental in improving health equity. They also noted Rwanda’s progresses in quality of medical products and technologies thanks to the   country’s FDS that provided stronger regulatory functions. While significant progress occurred over the past two decades to improve access to quality health care across Africa, out-of-pocket expenditure has increased. The regional average has increased from $15 per capita in 1995 to $38 in 2014. As a result, 11 million Africans are falling into poverty every year due to high out-of-pocket payments. Stakeholders also reminded to urgently make of Nutrition an absolute priority and to link it  to the universal health coverage agenda. A tribute was paid to the front-line community health workers and youth leaders as being significant agents of change.

Awards and launches announced during the conference:

• President Paul Kagame received the Universal Health Coverage Presidential Champion Award.
• “AMREF Health Africa” and “Results for Development” launched the Strategic Purchasing Africa Resource Centre, a resource centre to help African countries get more value for money from health spending,  AMREF launched the Women in Global Health Africa, a Regional Hub,  and the i-PUSH initiative, a mobile technology to directly connect women to health care financing, quality health care and information empowerment in collaboration with PharmAccess Foundation.
• Parliamentarians from Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania and Zambia launched the ‘Kigali UHC Communiqué’ committing to advance Universal Health Coverage in their countries
• An Award of Excellence in Health Journalism was officially created.
 
Youth Leader and anti-female genital mutilation activist Cynthia Oning'oi from Kenya, a female gentital mutilation survivor accepted the Women Global Health Africa's Award on behalf of Nice Nailantei Leng'ete, Global Advisor at AMREF’s End FGM Department.  "No universal health coverage is possible if gender-based violence, such as female genital mutilation continue to be perpetuated", she said.

The Hon. Marie-Chantal Rwakazina, Mayor of the City of Kigali, closed the International Conference on universal health coverage. “Gender inequality denies women and girls much-needed access to health services. When we developed Rwanda’s universal health coverage framework, we were mindful of creating gender-centric policies that addressed barriers in women’s right to access health care,” said Hon. Rwakazina. Ceremonies were concluded with the traditional Rwandan dance called "Intore".

Following the Africa Health Agenda International Conference in Kigali, the Government of Cabo Verde and the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa will jointly host the second WHO Africa Health Forum on the theme: “Achieving Universal Health Coverage and Health Security in Africa: The Africa We Want to See”. The Forum will take place in Praia, 26–28 March 2019. And finally, in September 2019 during the next United Nations General Assembly, the world parliament will hold it’s first-ever UN High-Level meeting on Universal Health Coverage.

Link to register to the second WHO Africa Health Forum in Praia, Cabo Verde:

http://africahealthforum.afro.who.int