AHF and Society for AIDS in Africa Convene High-Level Summit to Advance Regional Health Leadership and Sustainable Health Financing in Africa at ICASA 2025
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Global Public Health Institute, in partnership with The Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA), will host a pivotal High-Level Summit on Regional Health Leadership and Sustainable Financing in Africa following the opening ceremony of the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA 2025). Scheduled for December 3, the closed-door session will take place in the H.E. John Dramani Mahama Room at the Accra International Conference Centre, marking one of the most anticipated leadership dialogues of the conference.
The Summit arrives at a critical time for the continent as African governments, regional bodies, global health partners, and civil society increasingly call for self-reliant, resilient, and locally driven public health systems. The gathering aligns closely with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the Africa CDC’s New Public Health Order, both of which emphasize enhanced domestic manufacturing capacity, improved emergency preparedness, stronger governance, and sustainable financing frameworks to reduce dependence on international aid.
Over the past two decades, Africa has made significant progress against HIV, tuberculosis, and other infectious diseases. Yet the COVID-19 pandemic and other emerging health threats exposed gaps in medical supply chains, manufacturing capacity, equitable vaccine access, and long-term financing strategies. The upcoming Summit aims to transform lessons learned from the HIV response—often cited as one of the most successful collaborative global health efforts—into a new blueprint for sustainable universal health coverage and pandemic preparedness.
Bringing Together Heads of State and Continental Leaders
The Summit will feature high-level participation from heads of state, ministers of health and finance, parliamentarians, regional agencies, private-sector leaders, and development organizations. Most notably, the event will include a Presidential Fireside Conversation with:
- H.E. John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana
- H.E. Félix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
This presidential dialogue will be moderated by Dr. Michel Sidibé, African Union Special Envoy for the African Medicines Agency (AMA) and a former UNAIDS Executive Director. The discussion is expected to address topics including:
- Strengthening political leadership in health governance
- Domestic and regional financing reforms
- Regional manufacturing of medicines, diagnostics, and vaccines
- Cross-country collaboration for pandemic response and continuity of care
Their participation underscores a growing continental consensus: Africa must lead its own health agenda—not just respond to crises, but proactively build systems to prevent them.
A Platform for Technical Dialogue and Regional Strategy
Following the presidential segment, the Summit will transition into a Ministerial Dialogue on Sustainable and Innovative Health Financing. Distinguished participants include:
- Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate (Nigeria)
- Dr. Pakishe Aaron Motsoaledi (South Africa)
- Hon. Dr. Samuel Roger Kamba (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
- Hon. Dr. Benjamin Houkpatin (Benin)
- Dr. Jean Kaseya (Africa CDC)
- Hon. Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson (Ghana)
The session will be moderated by Dr. Penninah Iutung, Continental Bureau Chief, AHF Africa.
The panel will evaluate strategies such as domestic resource mobilization, public-private partnerships, regional procurement mechanisms, and innovative financing models tailored to Africa’s public realities.
Alongside financing, the Summit will also address the enabling conditions necessary to scale regional drug manufacturing and technology transfer. The session titled Leadership, Community, and Science — Regional Production will bring together experts including:
- Dr. Mohamed Janabi (WHO AFRO)
- Dr. Nicaise Ndembi (International Vaccine Institute)
- Allan Maleche (KELIN)
- Dr. Ana Beatriz Amaya (UNU-CRIS)
- Prof. Morenike Ukpong (SAA)
- Dr. Benjamin Djoudalbaye (Africa CDC)
Discussions will explore how to strengthen intellectual property frameworks, regulatory harmonization, and community engagement to ensure Africa’s growing biopharmaceutical capacity translates into equitable access.
A Call for Leadership, Innovation, and Collective Will
“Sustainable health financing and regional production are not just political priorities—they are imperatives for Africa’s security and prosperity,” said Dr. Jorge Saavedra, Executive Director of the AHF Global Public Institute. “This Summit underscores the need for bold leadership, innovative financing, and cross-sector collaboration to secure the continent’s health future.”
Dr. Saavedra emphasized that the success of the HIV response demonstrated the power of African political leadership, activism, and civil society engagement—and those same forces are now needed to protect future generations from pandemics, antimicrobial resistance, and resurging infectious diseases.
Additional Engagements at ICASA 2025
Beyond the headlining Summit, AHF will host two fireside sessions at Booth 8 in the ICASA 2025 Exhibition Hall:
1. Advancing Regional Health Leadership and Sustainable Financing
📅 Thursday, December 4 at 11:45 a.m. GMT
This session will provide practical pathways for strengthening regional governance, financing, and manufacturing. It aims to engage delegates in advancing commitments discussed in the high-level Summit.
2. Prevention First – Condoms, STI Control & Balanced Biomedical Messaging
📅 Saturday, December 6 at 12:35 p.m. GMT
With sexually transmitted infections rapidly increasing globally, this dialogue will examine how biomedical tools—such as PrEP and treatment as prevention—can complement traditional prevention approaches including condoms, education, and community advocacy.
About the AIDS Healthcare Foundation
AIDS Healthcare Foundation is the largest global HIV/AIDS organization, delivering medical care and services to more than 2.7 million individuals across 50 countries spanning Africa, the Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe. AHF remains deeply committed to advancing prevention, testing, treatment access, human rights, and public policy worldwide.
About the AHF Global Public Health Institute
The AHF Global Public Health Institute focuses on advancing evidence-based reforms in global architecture. Its work emphasizes health equity, global law, infectious disease readiness, governance strengthening, and financing innovations. Through policy leadership, research, and advocacy, the Institute contributes to building a more accountable and resilient global health ecosystem.
As ICASA 2025 unfolds in Accra, the conversations sparked by the High-Level Summit are expected to shape long-term policy commitments and accelerate momentum toward a future where Africa’s systems are stronger, more self-sufficient, and better prepared to protect every African life.
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