KIGALI, Rwanda – “Sad”, “Worried” and “The centre is shaking”, were some of the reactions of African health leaders to the termination of US aid at a media briefing on Sunday (2 March) ahead of the 6th Africa Health Agenda International Conference (AHAIC).

But speakers also stressed the need for resilience and swift action at the briefing ahead of the conference, which is hosted by Amref Health Africa in collaboration with Rwanda’s Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO) Africa Office for Africa, and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

“The centre of our health system on the continent must hold,” stressed Rwandan Minister of Health Dr Sabin Nsanzimana. “Even as financing declines, we must find ways to increase it – whether through domestic sources or partnerships with those who see health as an investment in humanity.”

Nsanzimana believes Africa can find alternative funding sources to fill many of the gaps left by the massive cuts to US Agency for International Development (USAID) funding.

“There’s always money somewhere,” he explained. “When some of our medical students in surgery and midwifery were at risk of pausing their long-term training because they were supported by financing that was stopped overnight, we reassessed our priorities. we looked at cross-sector health projects and found over 5 billion Rwandan francs [over $5 million] tied up in short-term training and workshops. 

“We asked ourselves: ‘Do we keep funding weekly training that people can read online, or do we invest in long-term workforce programs?’,” he said. Rwanda has now redirected those funds to keep students enrolled, shifting the current workshops to online platforms.

Africa must “think beyond traditional funding models and use what we have to meet our most urgent needs”, he stressed.

This will be one of the pressing question considered by the over 1,800 delegates from 56 countries attending the conference.

Significant risks

“This year’s conference comes at a time of significant risks to African communities and health systems,” said Dr Githinji Gitahi, CEO of Amref Health Africa, who called for  Africa’s health systems to be redesigned to address the dual burden of infectious and non-communicable diseases (NCD).

Many African countries bear high burdens of infectious diseases while also facing a surge in non-communicable diseases. 

“The health system we have today is not the one we’ll need tomorrow,” said Gitahi. “[But] we have minimal fiscal space. With population growth, economic shifts, and tax inefficiencies, how do we mobilize resources to fight both infectious and non-communicable diseases with limited funds?”

“Many of us didn’t anticipate the scale of change – cuts in government assistance from not only the US government but also Germany, the UK, and others. Our current health systems have relied heavily on external support. We must rethink how to sustain them in the future,” Gitahi added.

Speakers also emphasized that ,while communities are aware of diseases like malaria and HIV, many are unaware of the risk factors driving NCDs such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and strokes. 

Artifical intelligence and climate change

Beyond the urgent discussions on funding, the AHAIC conference is also focusing on topics including climate-resilient health policies, the growing burden of both infectious and non-communicable diseases, artificial intelligence in healthcare, and strengthening local pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Dr Claudia Shilumani, Africa CDC director of external relations and strategic management, warned of increasing health threats linked to climate change. Africa CDC is currently monitoring 243 health threats across the continent, with 84 significant events recorded in the first few weeks of 2025.

Artificial intelligence is also a major focus, with discussions on how technology can be leveraged to improve diagnostics, treatment, and hospital management. Delegates acknowledged that while Africa needs thousands of trained professionals to meet healthcare demands, AI-driven solutions could help bridge the gap by enhancing efficiency in service delivery.

Efforts to align policies across Africa are also gaining traction. The Africa CDC is working closely with the African Medicines Agency to streamline drug approvals and distribution across the continent. There is also a push to fast-track the qualification process for local manufacturers, ensuring national health strategies align with continental frameworks like the Africa Safety Strategic Plan.

Health resilience

Dr Matshidiso Moeti, outgoing WHO Africa Regional Director, highlighted the remarkable progress Africa’s health systems have made over the years. She noted that the continent has confronted pandemics, eliminated once-deadly viruses, and turned death sentences into manageable conditions.

Despite these achievements, Moeti emphasized that significant challenges remain. She pointed to the deepening link between health, economic stability, and the environment, warning that widening economic disparities, climate change, and conflict continue to threaten healthcare systems.

“One constant has been our collective commitment to building a healthier, stronger Africa.”

Image Credits: Edith Magak, WHO/NCD Portal.