African ministers of health gathering in the Zambian capital Lusaka on Monday, opened the Seventy-fifth session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa, the highest decision-making body on health on the continent, to rebuild the continent’s health systems through unity, leadership, and self-determination.
The 75th session of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa, running from 25 to 27 August 2025, brings together leaders from all 47 member states of the WHO African Region to debate critical health issues and adopt new policies aimed at reshaping Africa’s health architecture.
Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema set the tone with a rallying call for bold, Africa-led solutions:
“We must position health as a tool of empowerment – a driver of trade, industry, and human capital. The future of our continent depends on how well we invest in our people’s well-being today.”
The President also emphasised the need for harmonised public health policies across borders and stronger regional solidarity, lessons underscored by the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact.
Zambian Health Minister Dr Elijah Muchima called for a unified response to shared threats saying, “No country can stand alone in the face of today’s health emergencies. Collaboration isn’t optional it’s our only way forward.”
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that the forum comes at a “pivotal moment,” with many African countries striving to rebuild health systems under pressure from limited financing and security threats.
He affirmed WHO’s commitment to support African-led initiatives rooted in resilience and innovation.
Dr Mohamed Janabi, the newly appointed WHO Regional Director for Africa, emphasised a shift in mindset saying that, “We must no longer see health as a burden, but as a building block of prosperity and power. Africa must lead its own health transformation.”
The outcomes from Lusaka are expected to define health priorities for the next decade, anchoring the continent’s ambitions for healthier populations, stronger systems, and a united regional approach that reflects African realities and African leadership.