PROGRAMME

Monday, 12 December

08:00 - 11:00 CAT

12 December, 08:00-11:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by GIZ Botswana

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to strengthen the continent’s public health systems and manufacturing capabilities. Furthermore, the pandemic was catalytic in mobilising resources, promoting local production of health commodities and galvanising efforts to strengthen regulatory processes on the continent. This event will host a series of presentations and panel discussions on the current challenges in local pharmaceutical manufacturing and how to unlock the potential of regional manufacturing. The desired outcome is for the attendees to demonstrate the experiences of interventions that strengthen local manufacturing in the SADC region’s COVID-19 and antiretroviral value chains.

12 December, 08:00-11:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by GIZ Botswana

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to strengthen the continent’s public health systems and manufacturing capabilities. Furthermore, the pandemic was catalytic in mobilising resources, promoting local production of health commodities and galvanising efforts to strengthen regulatory processes on the continent. This event will host a series of presentations and panel discussions on the current challenges in local pharmaceutical manufacturing and how to unlock the potential of regional manufacturing. The desired outcome is for the attendees to demonstrate the experiences of interventions that strengthen local manufacturing in the SADC region’s COVID-19 and antiretroviral value chains.

12 December, 8:00-11:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by the Journal of Public Health in Africa (JPHiA)

Session description to be added shortly.

12 December, 08:00-11:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by USAID and the South African National Department of Health (NDoH)

Since January 2022, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Accelerating Development Against Pandemic Threats (ADAPT) Mechanism and partner Right to Care has supported the South African National Department of Health (NDoH) to increase delivery of COVID-19 vaccinations and strengthen the national COVID-19 response. The proposed side event aims to share best practices and lessons learned from ADAPT’s support in South Africa with the aim of strengthening partnerships and building resilient health systems to better prepare for and manage emerging health threats in Africa.

12 December, 08:00-11:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by Duke Center for Policy Impact in Global Health and Africa CDC Health Economics Program

Africa accounts for more than half of all under-five deaths globally. Every year, over 2.6 million African children under five years die from causes that are preventable or easily treatable. A big barrier preventing access to these life-saving essential health interventions is lack of financial coverage for health services, especially for children living in poor households. Despite these challenges some African countries have recorded significant progress in child survival and expansion of universal health coverage. This session will highlight these success stories at the national and sub-national levels. Panelists will discuss the unique challenges they faced and how they tackled those challenges by adopting contextually appropriate solutions. They will also draw lessons that could be transferrable to other African countries.

09:00 - 11:00 CAT

12 December, 09:00-11:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by Africa CDC and UNICEF

Cognizant of the critical role of Community Health Workforce as a critical human Resource for health and building on AU Decision (Assembly/AU/Dec.649(XXIX) to recruit 2 more million professionalized CHWs, Africa CDC in collaboration with different CH stakeholders on the continent are joining efforts to advance the institutionalization of community health workforce in Africa. The event will feature a plenary presentation on the Community Health landscape in Africa and panel discussions of Ministers of Health, Donors and Community Health Stakeholders for experiences sharing and identify innovative approaches towards institutionalization of Community Health Workforce for sustainable and resilient community health systems.

12 December, 09:00-11:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by Africa CDC and UNICEF

Cognizant of the critical role of Community Health Workforce as a critical human Resource for health and building on AU Decision (Assembly/AU/Dec.649(XXIX) to recruit 2 more million professionalized CHWs, Africa CDC in collaboration with different CH stakeholders on the continent are joining efforts to advance the institutionalization of community health workforce in Africa. The event will feature a plenary presentation on the Community Health landscape in Africa and panel discussions of Ministers of Health, Donors and Community Health Stakeholders for experiences sharing and identify innovative approaches towards institutionalization of Community Health Workforce for sustainable and resilient community health systems.

12 December, 09:00-11:00

LLocation: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by Africa CDC and Medtronic Labs 

The side event will be hosted by Africa CDC – Disease Control and Prevention Division in partnership with Medtronic Labs. The objective of the side event is to present the newly launched Africa CDC five years’ strategy for the prevention and control of NCDs & Injuries and Mental Health Promotion on the continent to various stakeholders and seek for alignment and synergies among existing strategies and initiatives aimed at NCDI/MH prevention and control in Africa. The event will also provide a platform to identify and strengthen collaboration towards the implementation of the Africa CDC NCDI/MH strategy. 

12 December, 09:00-11:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by Africa CDC 

In response to the limited biosafety and biosecurity capacities of the African Union Member States, Africa CDC launched the Biosafety and Biosecurity Initiative (BBI) whose goal is to strengthen Member States systems to comply with international regulations and requirements for biosafety and biosecurity. The session seeks to review progress in (i) the implementation of BBI (ii) establishment and operationalization of National Biosafety and Biosecurity Technical Working Groups (iii) (iii) the implementation of the United Nations Office for Dis-armament (UNODA) project on Universalization of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) in the Africa Region. 

09:00 - 17:00 CAT

12 December, 09:00-17:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by Africa CDC

This side event is anchored on the conference track 6: Digitalization, Modelling and Analytics to Support an Effective Public Health Response, from Outbreaks to Pandemics and Beyond. This side event is aimed at fostering digitalization for improved health outcomes on the continent. During this event, participants would explore how the different digital tools, technology and applications are deployed by MS, partners and other stakeholders in the detection, tracking and management of COVID-19 cases during the pandemic, assess existing gaps and provide actionable recommendations to advance the digitalization agenda on the continent. It would also seek to understand the existing opportunities and how these could be leveraged towards improving the digitalization of the public health system.

12 December, 09:00-17:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by Africa CDC

This side event is anchored on the conference track 6: Digitalization, Modelling and Analytics to Support an Effective Public Health Response, from Outbreaks to Pandemics and Beyond. This side event is aimed at fostering digitalization for improved health outcomes on the continent. During this event, participants would explore how the different digital tools, technology and applications are deployed by MS, partners and other stakeholders in the detection, tracking and management of COVID-19 cases during the pandemic, assess existing gaps and provide actionable recommendations to advance the digitalization agenda on the continent. It would also seek to understand the existing opportunities and how these could be leveraged towards improving the digitalization of the public health system.

12 December, 09:00-17:00

Location: The Marriott Hotel 

Organised by Division of Public Health Institutes and Research & Africa CDC

Session description to be added shortly

12:00 - 14:00 CAT

12 December, 12:00-14:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI)

The Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), a core partner of Resolve to Save Lives, will launch the recently developed Budget Advocacy Toolkit for Epidemic Preparedness, a step-by-step learning resource to guide advocacy for increased and sustained domestic funding for epidemic preparedness. A panel will discuss GHAI’s advocacy model, experience and lessons learned, and engagement with policy leaders in government, civil society, and the media in Nigeria and Ghana, followed by a workshop to discuss the four-step budget advocacy process outlined in the Budget Advocacy Toolkit: 1) Campaign Planning, 2) Campaign Implementation, 3) Budget Accountability, and 4) Budget Sustainability.

12 December, 12:00-14:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI)

The Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), a core partner of Resolve to Save Lives, will launch the recently developed Budget Advocacy Toolkit for Epidemic Preparedness, a step-by-step learning resource to guide advocacy for increased and sustained domestic funding for epidemic preparedness. A panel will discuss GHAI’s advocacy model, experience and lessons learned, and engagement with policy leaders in government, civil society, and the media in Nigeria and Ghana, followed by a workshop to discuss the four-step budget advocacy process outlined in the Budget Advocacy Toolkit: 1) Campaign Planning, 2) Campaign Implementation, 3) Budget Accountability, and 4) Budget Sustainability.

12 December, 12:00-14:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by Options Consultancy Services Limited

Session description to be added shortly.

12 December, 12:00-14:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSAHC)

The East Central and Southern Africa Health Community, under its Southern Africa TB Health Systems Support and Strengthening Pandemic Preparedness Projects, coordinated operation research studies to take stock of the TB mortality, private sector engagement and cost benefits of investments together with the status of the surveillance and preparedness in the project countries of Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Rwanda and Zambia. This workshop seeks to report on the findings as follows: out-of-pocket expenses as barrier to care and economics of investing in tuberculosis strategies, tuberculosis and occupation health in Southern African countries, and disease surveillance and pandemic preparedness.

12 December, 12:00-14:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by Clinical Research Coalition

Session description to be added shortly.

12 December, 12:00-14:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by Partners in Health 

Governments often seek partnerships with donors, implementing partners, stakeholders, civil society, and the global community to expand equitable healthcare delivery. This is especially apparent during health emergencies, such as the global COVID-19 pandemic, illuminating the critical need for oxygen in many countries for not just COVID-19 but all respiratory diseases, from asthma to tuberculosis to childhood pneumonia. In this event, policy experts from Rwanda, Malawi and Sierra Leone will discuss their grounded experiences in developing and implementing ambitious national health policies as well as strategies to move from well-written policies and plans to effective implementation to deliver equitable and quality health care.  

12 December, 12:00-14:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by WACI Health and Global Fund Advocates Network (GFAN) Africa

Organised by WACI Health and Global Fund Advocates Network (GFAN) Africa, this side event focuses on pandemic preparedness and resilient and sustainable systems for health, with an emphasis on community and CSO involvement and their critical role so far in supporting clinical response, mainly in surveillance, testing, contact tracing efforts and larger societal aspects of pandemic management. The event will also reflect on the lessons learnt and propose short- and long-term approaches as to how communities and CSOs engage towards effective pandemic preparedness and response, taking into account country and regional contexts.

12 December, 12:00-14:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by Ministry of Health Rwanda and ACT-A oxygen emergency task force partners: Africa CDC, CHAI, Every Breath Counts, Global Fund, PATH, Save the Children, UNICEF, Unitaid, WHO

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed massive gaps in access to oxygen, an essential, life-saving medicine, and triggered unprecedented investments throughout Africa. These investments provide an opportunity to strategically address the chronic oxygen shortages in health systems, to set up systems and build capacity to further scale, maintain, monitor and operate oxygen equipment, sustain supply chains, and ensure all patients in need can be identified and treated. This session will bring together governments, donors, development and academic partners to discuss lessons learned on oxygen during the COVID-19 pandemic, and efforts needed to sustain the investments made and continue to save lives.

12 December, 12:00-14:00

Location: Marriott Kigali Hotel – Kilimanjaro Ballroom

Organised by UK Health Security Agency 

Mentoring is a key component of leadership and career development and is underutilized for developing public health leaders globally. In Africa, only a few experienced public health mentors are available and are usually constrained by time. Lack of proper orientation for mentors and mentees on the purpose and outcome leads to a blend of approaches encompassing counselling, coaching and mentoring. The mentoring side event will explore what good mentorship looks like, how to grow from mentee to mentor and other pertinent issues to help grow and expand public health mentoring in Africa. Event discussions and recommendations will inform the development and expansion of public health mentoring in Africa.

15:00 - 17:00 CAT

12 December, 15:00-17:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by Kofi Annan Fellowship and Women in Global Health South Africa

The Kofi Annan Global Health Leadership Programme in collaboration with WGH SA hosts on the theme, “African women leadership global health: mountains of work, silent voices”. Women leaders in health and allies will share their lived realities of working in the global health space and the cost. This event will also celebrate the achievements to date and highlight the gap in gender transformative leadership. Further the side event will shine a spotlight on Africa’s emerging health leaders and the need for supportive alliances. The aim is to make tangible recommendations to support African Women in Leadership in global health.

12 December, 15:00-17:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by Kofi Annan Fellowship and Women in Global Health South Africa

The Kofi Annan Global Health Leadership Programme in collaboration with WGH SA hosts on the theme, “African women leadership global health: mountains of work, silent voices”. Women leaders in health and allies will share their lived realities of working in the global health space and the cost. This event will also celebrate the achievements to date and highlight the gap in gender transformative leadership. Further the side event will shine a spotlight on Africa’s emerging health leaders and the need for supportive alliances. The aim is to make tangible recommendations to support African Women in Leadership in global health.

12 December, 15:00-17:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by Africa CDC  

Session description to be added shortly.

12 December, 15:00-17:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by Amref Health Africa 

Reports indicate that Primary Health Care (PHC) is a critical health service delivery platform that addresses health security needs such as adequate workforce, cold chain, disease surveillance, and essential health services. However, opinions vary on the level of investments made in PHC by African governments, especially on core health security elements for inclusive and resilient health systems. The proposed side session will shed light on the role that PHC should play in curving the pathway to overall health security on the continent, an approach that benefits the broader health system as we advance toward health security.  

12 December, 15:00-17:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by Africa CDC

This side event is to disseminate findings from the CDST study and also to validate the tool as one of the tools that can be used for the screening of depression in children in Africa and the world. The workshop will also provide a platform for mental health advocacy and lobbying to all relevant stakeholders for short, medium, and long term interventions, particularly research on mental health in the continent, the integration of mental health in health services and systems, and the development of national mental health policies to contribute to the overall goal of strengthening mental health systems in Africa.

12 December, 15:00-17:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), World Health Organization (WHO) and Africa CDC

Session description to be added shortly.

12 December, 15:00-17:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by Africa CDC, DNDi, GARDP Southern Africa and Rwanda Biomedical Center

Sepsis is a leading cause of death in newborn babies and children in African countries. The development of new and effective antibiotics is urgently needed, yet R&D and development for babies has been neglected. Join us for this dynamic session, in which experts will look at the challenges of neonatal sepsis and explore opportunities to bring about change. These include boosting R&D and local production as well as strengthening institutions and partnerships. A range of experts will also discuss stepping up access to life-saving antibiotics and ensure they are used wisely. 

12 December, 15:00-17:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by Future Africa Forum 

Session description to be added shortly.

18:00 - 20:00 CAT

12 December, 18:00-20:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by Global Action For Fungal Infections

Session description to be added shortly.

12 December, 18:00-20:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by Global Action For Fungal Infections

Session description to be added shortly.

12 December, 18:00-20:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by the South African Health Technologies Advocacy Coalition (SAHTAC), the Coalition for Health Research and Development (CHReaD) and Pandemic Action Network 

A lesson that Africa has learnt from the Covid pandemic is that we need to develop our own homegrown solutions, to expand the local and regional production of medical countermeasures in low- and middle-income countries. This will allow for both direct access to medical countermeasures, as well as the development of local ecosystems for manufacturing. It will make supply in the event of the next crisis more reliable and equitable. There is a need for Africa to invest collectively to ensure African manufacturers have state-of-the-art production infrastructure, access to markets, trained personnel, and institutional and regulatory arrangements for common health security.    

12 December, 18:00-20:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by Amref Innovations – Amref Health Africa

Session description to be added shortly.

12 December, 18:00-20:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by Africa CDC 

Session description to be added shortly.

12 December, 18:00-20:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by the University of Global Health Equity

The University of Global Health Equity (UGHE), Rwanda, created as an initiative of Partners in Health (PIH), has a bold mission “to strengthen health systems and radically change the way health care is delivered around the world by training global health professionals to deliver more equitable, quality health services for all.”  The UGHE has embedded strategies in its undergraduate and postgraduate programs to promote students’ engagement in public health research.  The panel will discuss the approaches being taken and how faculty and students collaborate to engage the local and global community in making public health research a priority.

12 December, 18:00-20:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by Africa CDC 

Session description to be added shortly.

12 December, 18:00-21:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by FHI 360

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted unprecedented surge in demand for health services, highlighting the importance of ensuring primary care as key to functioning health systems. Primary care is the backbone of health care systems, but COVID-19 care occurs at every service delivery level. Join us for a look at the opportunities for integration of essential services to support a pandemic-resilient health system. This event will allow attendees to gain technical expertise, navigate challenges, and commit to innovative approaches to strengthening continuum of care. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with colleagues involved in similar work, sharing lessons learned and generating best practices. Featuring key experts representing Ministries of Health, donor agencies, implementing organizations, and academic institutions.

Wednesday, 14 December

07:00 - 08:30 CAT

14 December, 07:00-8:30

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Africa CDC, Amref, and Duke University 

Investments in pandemic preparedness and strong primary health care systems to tackle other infectious disease challenges are mutually reinforcing. Drawing on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, this side session will provide a forum for attendees to collectively discuss challenges and opportunities to strengthen core health systems and primary health care as a pillar of pandemic strategies, as well as opportunities for deeper regional and global collaboration.

14 December, 07:00-8:30

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Africa CDC, Amref, and Duke University 

Investments in pandemic preparedness and strong primary health care systems to tackle other infectious disease challenges are mutually reinforcing. Drawing on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, this side session will provide a forum for attendees to collectively discuss challenges and opportunities to strengthen core health systems and primary health care as a pillar of pandemic strategies, as well as opportunities for deeper regional and global collaboration.

14 December, 07:00-08:30

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by SciDev.Net

SciDev.Net staff and top scientists and journalists will discuss the importance of building a firm relationship with journalists and mapping our strategies that will help put relevant information that will help curb the growing threat of NCDs in Africa. It will be an interactive section with a moderator and panel members discussing, with contributions from attendees.

14 December, 07:00-8:30

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by Policy Cures Research

Session description to be added shortly.

14 December, 07:00-8:30

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organized by PANTHER/IS Global

Session description to be added shortly.

14 December, 07:00-8:30

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by The Conversation Africa 

Session description to be added shortly.

14 December, 07:00-8:30

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by Africa Constituency Bureau for the Global Fund

Session description to be added shortly.

14 December, 07:00-8:30

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by the European Commission Directorate-General for International Partnerships

This event is the official launch of a new regional flagship initiative on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in Africa. The initiative aims to advance shared policy commitments and priorities of Africa and Europe, with a focus on adolescent girls and young women. The initiative leverages the power of enhanced coordination and collaboration and builds on combined multimillion euro investments. The initiative has been co-created by the European Commission, EU Member States (Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxemburg, Netherlands and Sweden) and three Regional Economic Communities (REC), aiming to align to and reinforce REC priorities.

14 December, 07:00-8:30

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by Global Health Policy Partnership, University of Oxford

Session description to be added shortly.

14 December, 07:00-8:30

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by African Development Bank

Technology is central to the pharmaceutical enterprise. Continuous investments into technology access and technological learning play a critical role in enhancing production and innovation capacity for both generics and innovative products in the pharmaceutical sector. But there remain major barriers for licensing, technology transfer and know-how sharing that impact the performance of Africa’s pharmaceutical industry today. In this event, top global experts will deliberate the technology needs of African companies and the African public sector, and how the newly established African Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation, a critically important building block in Africa’s emerging institutional architecture to foster domestic manufacturing, can address these barriers.

14 December, 07:00-8:30

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by Pan African Medical Journal (PAMJ)

Session description to be added shortly.

13:30 - 16:30 CAT

14 December, 13:30-16:30

Location: Lemigo Hotel

Organised by FIND, The Global Alliance for Diagnostics

Session description to be added shortly.

14 December, 13:30-16:30

Location: Lemigo Hotel

Organised by FIND, The Global Alliance for Diagnostics

Session description to be added shortly.

18:00 - 20:00 CAT

14 December, 18:00-20:00

Location: Virtual – Register here. 

Organised by Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network (EMPHNET)

EMPHNET developed the blended model for the frontline and intermediate Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP). The model was developed to assist Ministries of Health in overcoming the challenges associated with sending their employees to FETP training, such as the conflict in some countries and a lack of human resources. The objective of this side event is to introduce the FETP blended model. 

14 December, 18:00-20:00

Location: Virtual – Register here. 

Organised by Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network (EMPHNET)

EMPHNET developed the blended model for the frontline and intermediate Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP). The model was developed to assist Ministries of Health in overcoming the challenges associated with sending their employees to FETP training, such as the conflict in some countries and a lack of human resources. The objective of this side event is to introduce the FETP blended model. 

19:00 - 21:00 CAT

14 December, 19:00-21:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by NCDI Poverty Network and Partners in Health

This session features PEN-Plus – a clinical model for people living with severe NCDs that was recently adopted by WHO AFRO. PEN-Plus trains teams of nurses, clinical officers, and other mid-level providers at district hospitals in care for NCDs that may require services beyond primary care. We will feature panels of experienced PEN-Plus providers who will discuss lessons learned from Rwanda, Malawi, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. This session is a practical one, focusing on core themes in program design, training, data management, longitudinal mentorship, and building of political will for a new model of care delivery at district hospitals.

14 December, 19:00-21:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by NCDI Poverty Network and Partners in Health

This session features PEN-Plus – a clinical model for people living with severe NCDs that was recently adopted by WHO AFRO. PEN-Plus trains teams of nurses, clinical officers, and other mid-level providers at district hospitals in care for NCDs that may require services beyond primary care. We will feature panels of experienced PEN-Plus providers who will discuss lessons learned from Rwanda, Malawi, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. This session is a practical one, focusing on core themes in program design, training, data management, longitudinal mentorship, and building of political will for a new model of care delivery at district hospitals.

14 December, 19:00-21:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by AIDS Healthcare Foundation

As the world continues to rebuild, the inequities that marred the COVID-19 response have shown the urgent need to reform the global public health system and explore lessons from Africa’s innovative and strategic response to the pandemic. In this side-session, hosted by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), public health experts, advocates and prominent figures will discuss what an equitable and cooperative approach to global public health should be – focusing on governance, leadership, a new public health convention, resource mobilisation, research, vaccines, global health equity and CSO engagement – towards averting or reducing the impact of more public health threats.

14 December, 19:00-21:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by Nigeria Health Watch and Sydani Group

Infectious disease outbreaks remain a public health challenge globally. To mount an effective response requires the communication of clear and consistent public health information, involving the whole-of-society. Nigeria Health Watch in partnership with Sydani Group is hosting a side event titled ‘Health Communication in a Public Health Emergency Response’ to discuss progress, lessons learnt and the way forward in public health communication on the African continent. As the world tries to build back better after the pandemic, there is a clear need to discuss the key role that communication plays in ensuring an effective public health response.

14 December, 19:00-21:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit)

In line with this year’s conference theme and conference track 5, this joint side event by Africa CDC and GIZ will focus on the continent’s One Health initiatives at regional and continental levels as well as next steps in further institutionalising the One Health approach on the continent. The side event aims to:

  • Take stock of One Health developments, initiatives, and efforts led by AU Regional Economic Communities;
  • Showcase lessons learnt from success stories and challenges;
  • Advocate for political and community buy-in and bringing One Health onto the regular agenda of discussions on health in Africa;
  • Create a space for peer-to-peer exchange and strengthen networks.

14 December, 19:00-21:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative

Hosted by Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, the main objective of the session is to raise visibility of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), neglected patients, and the need for new tools. This is in line with this year’s Kigali Declaration on NTDs, which reiterates commitment to WHO’s 2021–2030 road map, and the target of Sustainable Development Goal three to end NTD epidemics. Speakers will speak about among others, the impact of climate change on NTDs, solutions by Africa to access treatments and the role of youth in innovation for NTDs.

14 December, 19:00-21:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by Partners in Health 

Session description to be added shortly.

14 December, 19:00-21:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by Africa CDC

Session description to be added shortly.

14 December, 19:00-21:00

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by IFPMA on behalf of the AMA Treaty Alliance (AMATA)

Pharmaceutical regulatory harmonization, incarnated by the African Medicines Agency, has been described time and over again as a key prerequisite for better pandemic preparedness. As the foundations of the new Agency are laid out, this side event will bring key stakeholders from the public sector, private sector and civil society to discuss their respective roles and responsibilities in the development of the Agency, as well as their collective commitment towards the vision of the AMA. The side event will be hosted by the AMA Treaty Alliance (AMATA), a multi-stakeholder alliance set up to advocate for the ratification and implementation of the African Medicines Agency (AMA) Treaty and for meaningful engagement with patients and other non-state actors, in all aspects of the Agency framework and development.

Thursday, December 15

07:00 - 08:30 CAT

15 December, 07:00-8:30

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organized by Amref Health Africa 

Session description to be added shortly.

15 December, 07:00-8:30

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organized by Amref Health Africa 

Session description to be added shortly.

15 December, 07:00-08:30

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research

The African Cohort Study (AFRICOS) was initiated in 2013 to assess the impact of clinical practices, biological factors, and socio-behavioral issues on HIV infection and disease progression in an African context. Today the cohort consists of more than >4000 participants at 12 clinical care facilities in Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda that are funded by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). In this side event, we will use data from AFRICOS to assess the clinical impact of dolutegravir-containing antiretroviral therapy and the evolving health needs of people living with HIV.

15 December, 07:00-08:30

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI)

Session description to be added shortly.

15 December, 07:00-8:30

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by Africa Health Business

Africa must strive to build resilient health systems that allow governments to prepare for and manage health threats while addressing long-standing infectious diseases. Molecular diagnostics is one such way to strengthen, advance and sustain health systems. Hologic is a leader in this field and have various tests that are used for screening for infectious diseases, microorganisms, and cancers. The side session will facilitate discussions on the development of molecular diagnostics framework for public health responses in Africa, and formation of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to enhance surveillance capacity for infectious and emerging diseases on the continent.

15 December, 07:00-08:30

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by Fondation Congolaise pour la Recherche Médicale 

Session description to be added shortly.

15 December, 07:00-08:30

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by IFRC Regional Office for Africa & Africa CDC

A multi-stakeholder panel joins the IFRC and the Africa CDC to identify opportunities to promote and amplify the importance of the community health workforce (CHW) in delivering essential health services while exploring sustainable financing models, best approaches to further coordinate, strengthen and integrate the work of Community health actors in service delivery towards Universal Health Coverage. The contextually diverse think-thank discussions will evolve around: 

  • Scope of services for CHWs 
  • Investment case for scale-up and sustainability 
  • Funding schemes and models (case studies, lessons learned, innovations) 
  • Challenges to sustain and integrate CHWs in healthcare systems
  • Monitoring, evaluation, quality assurance, and accountability issues

15 December, 07:00-08:30

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by the Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization (SRH/WHO) and Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI)

Progress towards integrating SRH in the context of UHC requires a combination of political commitment and well-defined and coherent strategies that consider the trade-offs of an increased emphasis on SRHR to not disrupt financing and service delivery of other critical health services. Globally, UN agencies, donors and international global health organizations working towards comprehensive SRHR in partnership with countries are striving to deliver on the commitments through developing and implementing guidelines and tools; providing technical support, building the evidence base and advocacy for political action. The main objective of the session is to share experiences, lessons learned and practical support for design, implementation and monitoring of strategies, policies and programmes to strengthen the integration of SRHR in UHC.

15 December, 07:00-08:30

Location: Kigali Convention Centre – room to be confirmed

Organised by FIND, The Global Alliance for Diagnostics

With the theme of Strengthening Health Systems for Equitable Access, FIND brings together a variety of speakers to explore ways in which we can accelerate the decentralization of diagnostics in health systems for equitable access. Exploring topics such as National Essential Diagnostics Lists, accelerating the introduction of new and improved point-of-care multi-disease platforms, diagnostic network optimization, and integrated community health care delivery. We unpack these topics from a variety of perspectives including government stakeholders, manufacturers, and implementing partners. The roundtable will be hosted by a moderator and aims to pull together the four areas for a holistic and timely discussion.  

7:00 - 9:00 CAT
Registration
9:00 - 10:30 CAT
Plenary Session: Epidemiology, Diagnostics and Clinical Management of Emerging and Re-emerging High Consequence Infectious Diseases (HCID) in Africa Moderators:
  • Dr. Trevor Crowell, Director, Clinical Research Directorate, Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine
  • Prof. Francine Ntoumi, Founder, Chair and Executive Director, Fondation Congolaise pour la Recherche Medicale
Confirmed speakers:
  • Prof. Salim Abdool Karim, Director, Center for the AIDS Program of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA)
  • Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, Regional Director, Regional Office for Africa, World Health Organization
11:00 - 12:00 CAT
Opening Ceremony
12:00 - 13:00 CAT
Ministerial Special Session
14:00 - 15:30 CAT
Parallel Sessions
15:30 - 17:00 CAT
Abstract-Driven Sessions
17:30 - 19:00 CAT
Plenary Session: The COVID-19 pandemic – Lessons Learned for Future Health Threats, Prevention, Preparedness and Response Moderators:
  • Dr. Claude Mambo Muvunyi, Director General, Rwanda Biomedical Centre
  • Dr. Krishna Udayakumar, Founding Director, Duke Global Health Innovation Center
Confirmed speakers:
  • Prof. Christian Happi, Director, African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases
  • Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, Assistant Director General, WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence
  • Dr. Ahmed Ogwell Ouma, Acting Director, Africa CDC
  • Dr. Solomon Zewdu, Senior Executive Resident for Strategy, Planning, Mastercard Foundation
19:00 - 21:00 CAT
Networking Dinner
7:00 - 9:00 CAT
Morning Side Events – See the Side Events tab above for details
9:00 - 10:30 CAT
Plenary Session: Women in Health – From Recipients to Providers to Leaders Moderators:
  • Vivianne Ihekweazu, Managing Director, Nigeria Health Watch
  • Dr. Ebere Okereke, Technical Adviser, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change
Confirmed speakers:
  • Madam Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director, UNAIDS
  • H.E. Awa Marie Coll Seck, Minister of State to the President of the Republic of Senegal
  • Dr. Esmehan Elkhair, Director, Mother and Child Health, Federal Ministry of Health of Sudan
  • Dr. Mary Muchekeza, Provincial Medical Director, Ministry of Health and Child Care, Zimbabwe
  • Faith Nfii, Programme Coordinator, Public Health Workforce Development, Africa CDC
  • Norah Obudho, East Africa Program Director, WomenLift Health
  • Oyeronke Oyebanji, Policy and Partnerships Manager, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)
  • Dr. Magda Robalo, Global Managing Director, Women in Global Health
11:00 - 12:30 CAT
Plenary Session: Whole-of-Society – The Power of Engaging Civil Society, Community Actors, and the Private Sector Moderator:
  • Kedest Tesfagiorgiso, Deputy Director, Global Partnerships & Grand Challenges, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Confirmed speakers:
  • Dr. Moses Aloboo, Program Manager, Grand Challenges Africa
  • Dr. Abofele Khoele, Managing Director for South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, Organon
  • Njide Ndili, Country Director, PharmAccess Foundation
  • Cheikh Oumar Seydi, Director, Africa, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
  • Dr. Amit N. Thakker, Executive Chairman, Africa Health Business
  • Dr. Monique Wasunna, Eastern Africa Director, Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi)
Plenary Session: Digitalization, Modeling and Analytics to Support an Effective Public Health Response, from Outbreaks to Pandemics and Beyond Moderator:
  • Nelly Wakaba Aleo, Head of Health Ecosystems, Mastercard Foundation
Confirmed speakers:
  • Dr. Mohamed M. Aburawi, Founder and CEO, Speetar
  • Prof. Akindele Adebiyi, President-Elect, International Epidemiological Association
  • Dr. Edem Adzogenou, Senior Innovation Advisor, African Union
  • Dr. Ann Aerts, Head of Novartis Foundation
  • Dr. Jean Philbert Nsengimana, Chief Digital Advisor, Africa CDC
  • Dr. Ahmed Ogwell Ouma, Acting Director, Africa CDC
13:30 - 15:00 CAT
Parallel Sessions
15:00 - 16:30 CAT
Abstract-Driven Sessions
17:00 - 18:30 CAT
Plenary Session: A Renewed Focus on Africa’s Major Infectious Diseases: HIV, TB, Malaria and NTDs Moderators:
  • Prof. Rose Leke, Professor of Immunology and Parasitology, University of Yaoundé
  • Dr. Thomas Nyirenda, Strategic Partnerships & Capacity Development Manager, European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP)
Confirmed speakers:
  • John Amuasi, Executive Director, African Research Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases
  • Prof. Agnes Binagwaho, Co-Chair, CPHIA 2022 & Vice Chancellor, University of Global Health Equity
  • Prof. Marielle Bouyouo, Professor Parasitology Mycology & Tropical Medicine, Université des Sciences de la Santé
  • Dr. Ahmed Ogwell Ouma, Acting Director, Africa CDC
19:00 - 21:00 CAT
Evening Side Events – See the Side Events tab above for details
7:00 - 9:00 CAT
Morning Side Events – See the Side Events tab above for details
9:00 - 10:30 CAT
Plenary Session: Non-Communicable Diseases – A Growing Public Health Threat in Africa Moderators:
  • Dr. Mary Nyamongo, Executive Director, African Institute for Health & Development
  • Prof. Taiwo Lateef Sheikh, Professor of Psychiatry, College of Medical Services, Ahmadu Bello University
Confirmed speakers:
  • Prof. Hassen Ghannem, Head of Department of Epidemiology, University of Sousse, Tunisia
  • Dr. Oswald Goukodadja, Department of Traumatology & Orthopedics, University of Benin
  • Dr. Akwasi Osei, Director General, Ghana Mental Health Authority
11:00 - 12:30 CAT
Plenary Session: Increasing Local Production in Africa: Advocacy, Research and Development Capacity in Diagnostics, Therapeutics and Vaccine Manufacturing Moderators:
  • Noella Bigirimana, Deputy Director General, Rwanda Biomedical Centre
  • Prof. Charles Shey Wiysonge, Senior Director, South African Medical Research Council
Confirmed speakers:
  • Dr. Michael Makanga, Executive Director, European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP)
  • Prof. Claude Mambo Muvunyi, Director General, Rwanda Biomedical Centre
  • Dr. Nicaise Ndembi, Senior Science Advisor, Africa CDC
  • Dr. Hassan Sefrioui, Director & Member of the Executive Board, Moroccan Foundation for Advanced Science, Innovation and Research (MAScIR)
Plenary Session: Strengthening Health Systems for Equitable and Universal Health Coverage in Africa Moderators:
  • Dr. Githinji Gitahi, Group CEO, Amref Health Africa
  • Dr. Brenda Asiimwe Kateera, Country Director, Clinton Health Access Initiative Rwanda
Confirmed speakers:
  • Dr. Dereje Duguma, State Minister of Health, Ethiopia
  • Dr. Christopher Elias, President, Global Health, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
  • Dr. Roger Kamba, Special Advisor to the President for UHC, Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Dr. Ephrem T. Lemango, Associate Director of Immunization, UNICEF
  • Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, Regional Director, Regional Office for Africa, World Health Organization
  • Dr. Ahmed Ogwell Ouma, Acting Director, Africa CDC
  • Regis A. Rugemanshuro, Chief Executive Officer, Rwanda Social Security Board
13:30 - 15:00 CAT
Parallel Sessions
15:00 - 16:30 CAT
Parallel Sessions
17:00 - 18:30 CAT
Closing & Awards Ceremony 
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