The 75th session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa opened in Lusaka on Monday, August 25, with Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema calling on African nations to harmonise public health regulations to strengthen health systems across the continent.
Addressing delegates at the three-day meeting themed “Building a Healthier Africa Together” Hichilema warned that fragmented and delayed regulatory frameworks were leaving populations exposed to preventable health challenges. He stressed the urgency of building resilient health institutions capable of responding to future disease outbreaks, citing the COVID-19 pandemic as evidence of Africa’s limited preparedness. He further underlined the importance of regional manufacturing, innovation, and health diplomacy in advancing long-term health security and development.
Hichilema also linked health to Africa’s broader economic agenda, emphasising its role in enabling trade and industrialisation under the African Continental Free Trade Area. He urged increased investment in the health sector to empower populations and drive sustainable growth.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus commended Zambia’s leadership in prioritising public health despite widespread challenges, while Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya called on African nations to boost funding and collaboration to address emerging threats. The meeting brought together health leaders and policymakers from across the region to chart strategies for a stronger, unified health future for Africa.