06 Mar 2025

Experts, policymakers and healthcare professionals from across Africa will gather to address key challenges and explore sustainable solutions for strengthening health systems across the continent.

In an interview yesterday, Dr John Tlhakanelo, a public health physician and health economist at the University of Botswana (UB) highlighted that the African continent continued to confront health challenges.

He said these ranged from infectious diseases to the growing burden of non-communicable diseases, saying the conference would be a vital step towards achieving universal health coverage and ensuring equitable access to quality care for all Africans.

Dr Tlhakanelo said he would join other health expects at the 7th International Scientific Conference in Kigali, Rwanda organised by the African Health Economics and Policy Association (AfHEA) on March 10-14.

He described the upcoming conference as an excellent opportunity to engage with international experts, share knowledge and collaborate on developing strategies that would address the unique healthcare challenges facing African nations.

Dr Tlhakanelo further pointed that the expects shared a vision for a resilient future, saying for that reason they were aiming to create a roadmap for African nations to build resilient health systems capable of weathering future health crises.

They were also aiming to come up with actionable solutions for policymakers, health leaders and stakeholders to foster sustainable development in health systems.

“The discussions at the conference are expected to touch on a variety of crucial issues, including the impact of climate change on health, the burden of non-communicable diseases and the importance of strengthening primary healthcare systems,” Dr Tlhakanelo stated.

He further said experts would explore the role of technology and digital health innovations in enhancing service delivery and access to healthcare.

The UB don said the event would further underscore the importance of integrating health economics and policy into the fabric of health system strengthening efforts in Africa, ensuring that future generations benefit from a more resilient, accessible and equitable healthcare landscape.

Dr Tlhakanelo shared that he would participate on discussion on the economics of health systems in Africa, with an emphasis on innovative financing models, the efficiency of health expenditures and the role of private-public partnerships in enhancing healthcare delivery.

Additionally, he said among his presentations would be ‘the dual challenges of poor access and vaccine hesitancy across African communities'. He highlighted that in Botswana, vaccine resistance was particularly evident among younger individuals, influenced by a variety of factors such as mistrust, religious beliefs and the proliferation of conspiracy theories.

The conference to be held under the theme: Resilient and Strong African Health Systems: Contribution of Health Economics and Health Policy,  is a pivotal moment in the ongoing efforts to reform and strengthen Africa’s healthcare systems.

“The event is poised to provide invaluable insights and spark meaningful discussions on the future of health in Africa and the conversations and collaborations that will emerge from the event are sure to shape the trajectory of African health systems for years to come,” said Dr Tlhakanelo. ENDS