CPHIA 2025 to spotlight digital innovation as Africa pushes for health self-reliance

The 4th Annual International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA 2025) will take centre stage in Durban, South Africa, from October 22 to 25, uniting health leaders, scientists, policymakers, and civil society from across the continent and beyond under a single, powerful theme: “Moving towards self-reliance to achieve universal health coverage and health security in Africa.”

Co-hosted by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the Government of South Africa, in collaboration with Africa Bio’s 8th Annual BIO Africa Convention, this year’s conference carries greater urgency and ambition. It comes at a time when Africa is not merely rising but leading in shaping its own health destiny.

Speaking ahead of the conference in an interview with Human Rights Reporters Ghana’s Joseph Wemakor, Dr. Francis Ohanyido, Director-General of the West African Institute of Public Health (WAIPH) and Co-lead of the Scientific Programme Committee’s Track 4 on Digital Innovation and AI, called for a continental mindset shift.

In his words, Africa has reached what he terms the “M-PESA moment” of health technology—a reference to the mobile money platform that transformed financial inclusion in Kenya and beyond. According to him, this moment must be seized to revolutionize healthcare delivery across the continent.

Dr. Ohanyido, who also serves on the Africa CDC’s flagship Africa Digital Health Networks (ADHN), believes that CPHIA is no ordinary gathering.

“CPHIA is where knowledge meets action, innovation meets impact—driving Africa’s health revolution, shaping policies, and empowering leaders to deliver a healthier future for all,” he stated.

For him, the theme of this year’s conference resonates on a deeply personal and professional level. Having championed digital solutions for public health for nearly three decades, he sees CPHIA 2025 as the springboard for scaling technologies that are tailored to Africa’s unique challenges.

Despite the optimism, Dr. Ohanyido is clear-eyed about the hurdles ahead.

He points to what WAIPH has identified as the “7 Ps” impeding Universal Health Coverage (UHC): Poor Political Will, Policy Gaps, Population Rise, Provider-to-Patient Shortage, Paucity of Investment, Patchy Technology Integration, and Poor Infrastructure and Service Provision.

These interconnected challenges, he argues, must be addressed decisively and with urgency. Yet, he maintains that Africa holds a distinct advantage in the current digital age, where artificial intelligence and mobile innovation can help leapfrog traditional barriers—if deployed strategically.

Examples of African ingenuity in digital health abound. Ghana’s ‘Gold Keys’ system is making strides in combating counterfeit medicine. Rwanda is building a national electronic health record system under its “Smart Rwanda” initiative.

Morocco is investing heavily in modern digital health infrastructure. These are not isolated successes, Dr. Ohanyido emphasized, but signals of a continent that is rising through its own innovation and leadership.

“Africa is not rising—it has risen,” he declared confidently, adding that cross-country collaboration and learning must be intensified to scale these local solutions continent-wide.

He further explained that collaboration itself must evolve from strategy to execution. While regional initiatives like the Africa Digital Health Networks and frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) offer immense promise for knowledge-sharing and regulatory harmonization, they must now translate into concrete results.

“We need to move from collaboration to collabo-action,” he said. “Implementation remains our weakest link.”

Dr. Ohanyido also emphasized the importance of innovative and sustainable financing mechanisms to support long-term health system strengthening.

He expressed optimism about the potential of blended financing models, expanded health insurance coverage, and robust public-private partnerships.

“Call me an Afroptimist,” he quipped, “but I believe that with the right policy environment and political will, Africa can fund and own its health future.”

Ownership, according to him, is the cornerstone of true health sovereignty. He pointed to examples such as Kenya’s mobile health revolution led by M-PESA and South Africa’s Medicines Patent Pool initiative, which enables local production of affordable medicines.

These African-led efforts are not just innovative—they are effective, scalable, and essential for reducing dependency on external aid.

“By supporting and scaling local solutions, Africa can take charge of its own health challenges and craft context-specific, sustainable responses,” he stated.

Dr. Ohanyido also highlighted the role of youth and journalists in Africa’s health journey. Young professionals, he noted, are increasingly driving change through innovation, advocacy, and health education.

Journalists, meanwhile, have a unique responsibility in holding leaders accountable, amplifying community voices, and demystifying public health information.

“Their pen can be mightier than the virus,” he remarked. “Empowered young minds, driven by purpose and creativity, are key to shaping a healthier future.”

As the continent prepares for CPHIA 2025, Dr. Ohanyido offered a strong call to action. He urged African governments, development partners, and all stakeholders to prioritize digital transformation, support African-led solutions, and commit to sustainable health financing.

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” he concluded.

“Repositioning Africa’s health systems is a collective journey. As the Igbo proverb goes, ‘Igwebuike’—we are only as strong as the sum of all our numbers. Now is the time to walk together toward a future of health sovereignty for Africa.”

With CPHIA 2025 fast approaching, the spotlight is not only on Durban but on the entire continent. The conversation has shifted—from what Africa needs to what Africa can and will do for itself. And in that shift lies the power to transform public health for generations to come.