Kenya’s Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has positioned Africa as an emerging leader in shaping global health systems, citing recent continental engagements as a turning point in redefining the region’s role.
Speaking at a high-level side event during the 79th World Health Assembly, Duale reflected on outcomes from the World Health Summit Regional Meeting held in Nairobi, describing it as a critical shift in Africa’s health trajectory.
He noted that the meeting signaled a departure from the continent being viewed as a passive recipient of global health solutions to becoming an active architect of resilient and innovative systems.
“The Nairobi meeting marked a turning point for Africa's health agenda,” Duale said. “It showed the continent not as a passive recipient of solutions, but as an active architect of resilient and innovative health systems.”
Duale emphasized that building strong health systems in Africa must begin at the grassroots level, drawing lessons from recent crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and climate-related shocks.
“Resilience must be built from the community upward,” he stated. “We must draw lessons from COVID-19 and climate-related shocks to ensure our systems are responsive, inclusive and sustainable.”
He highlighted Kenya’s ongoing rollout of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the Taifa Care reforms as key examples of this approach.
“Our UHC rollout and Taifa Care reforms are focused on strengthening primary healthcare, advancing digitalisation, and ensuring we reach every household,” Duale said. “This is how we build a health system that works for all.”
The Cabinet Secretary also underscored the growing importance of innovation in Africa’s health agenda, calling for it to be treated as a continental public good.
“Innovation must be treated as a continental public good,” he noted. “Africa is demonstrating growing strength in digital health, biotechnology and local manufacturing, and Kenya is positioning itself as a regional hub.”
Duale further called for stronger collaboration across sectors, urging stakeholders to move beyond discussions and focus on implementation and accountability.
“We must move from dialogue to implementation and accountability,” he said. “Stronger cross-sector partnerships will be critical in delivering real, measurable outcomes for our people.”
He stressed that Africa is ready to take a more proactive role in global health governance.
“Africa is ready to lead through co-creation, shared leadership and meaningful contribution to global health security,” Duale added.
The event also featured Dr. Nicholus Muraguri, Advisor on Global Health Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, who joined Duale in advancing Kenya’s position on international health cooperation.
“Kenya remains committed to strengthening global health diplomacy and fostering partnerships that will support sustainable health systems across the continent,” Dr. Muraguri said.