UK Africa Health Summit Commences, Promoting Partnerships & Collaboration for Health for All

London (UK): The first day of UK Africa Health Summit has been informative, inspiring, and motivational. Participants have heard from incredible speakers, leading thinkers, experts, medical practitioners, and innovators across the world on one platform.

Uganda’s delegation comprising of Hon. Kintu Alex Brandon, (MP for Kagoma North & Spokesperson NRM Parliamentary Caucus), Hon. Dr. Charles Ayume (MP for Koboko Municipality & Chairperson Parliamentary Forum on AMR), Daniel Kyabayinze (Director of Public Health, MoH), and Mariam Seguya (RDC Kayunga) was warmly welcomed by Higher Commissioner of Uganda to the UK, H.E. Ambassador Nimisha Madhvani, who emphasised the significant strides made under Uganda-UK health partnerships.

This summit fosters innovation and collaboration, as well as, sharing solutions for better health for all. Key highlights included encouraging NHS engagement in global health, leveraging power of the diaspora health workforce to bridge gaps between health systems, and reducing global health inequalities, among others.

In the opening remarks, Global Health Partnerships CEO, Ben Simms, noted that the summit is an opportunity to listen to colleagues from Africa on what’s next, especially after cuts to USAID and now UK ODA and opportunities arising for resilient health systems.

“I am so excited to be here at the UK Africa Summit after months of preparation. Here we are and it’s now happening. Um we’re surrounded by brilliant individuals, some of them are ministers of state for health, some of them are senior leaders in ministries of health. All of them know that if we learn globally, we improve the prospects of patient care locally. That’s what this conference is about. And it’s taking place at a toxic time, when we are challenged on all fronts by the invitation to withdraw from collaboration. And this summit, above all else is a statement in favour of countries. Health systems working together, learning together in equitable partnership,” Simms said.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of WHO, highlighted the power of partnerships, rallying countries to enhance partnerships with international organisations, in a bid to solve health challenges. “No country can tackle health challenges alone.”

Jim Campbell, Director Health Workforce at WHO, acknowledged the value of intentional investment in health partnerships by the UK Government over many years.

Hon. Khumbize Kandodo-Chiponda, Minister of Health (Malawi), spoke to importance of shared solutions & collaborative approaches in tackling shared challenges on health. He also pointed out that diaspora contributions to healthcare are immense & growing, hence the need for stronger UK-Africa collaboration.

Indeed, the role of the diaspora in building sustainable health systems globally was recognised. Diaspora communities are a bridge between two worlds, as members bridge nations while transforming health systems.

Dorcas Gwata, Global Health Partnerships Advisor, rallied the diapsora to strengthen partnerships. “As the diaspora, we often think we only need to have relationships between ourselves, but we also need to focus on building relationships with institutions to formalise the gains and learnings made in global health”.

Dr. Nwaekaego Chukwukaodinaka, Director of Diaspora at the Federal Ministry of Health (Nigeria), reckoned that by supporting diaspora groups and forging networks of collaboration, the diaspora are strengthening health systems in both their host countries and countries of heritage.

Ghana Nurses Association UK, revealed how members in the diaspora are strengthening the health system back home. “We go home on holiday-using our leave or do zoom calls in our own time (sometimes having to take the day off) to support the Ghana health system.”

Summit organiser, who doubles as Global Health Partnerships Diaspora Engagement Advisor, Moses Mulimira, stressed that members in the diaspora do a lot of amazing things in strengthening the health sector in UK and Africa, hence the need to put in frameworks for coordination. He also assured that Global Health Partnerships wants to formalise diaspora initiatives.

Ultimately, collaborative relationships ensure sustainability, hence the need to push for partnerships that last beyond funding. The meaningful discussion continues and will cover several pressing topics, including investment for health and well-being, resilience and equity of health systems across the globe.