Category: Africa

Source: APO

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At a time when Africa faces evolving health challenges, growing demands on health systems and the urgent need for greater self-reliance, leaders from across the continent gathered in Ghana with a shared conviction: the future of Africa’s health must be shaped by African leadership, investment and innovation.

The African Union Extraordinary Summit on Health, hosted in Accra, brought together Heads of State, policymakers, health leaders, development partners and global health experts to chart a renewed path towards stronger, more resilient and equitable health systems.

Beyond the discussions and commitments, the Summit served as a powerful reminder that health is not only a measure of human wellbeing but also a foundation for economic growth, social stability and Africa’s sustainable development.

Ghana’s hosting of the high-level gathering underscored the country’s continued leadership in advancing health development on the continent and creating space for dialogue on how Africa can move from dependence to greater ownership of its health solutions.

At the centre of discussions was the need for African countries to strengthen domestic capacity and reduce vulnerabilities in the health sector. Despite significant progress over the years, the continent continues to face challenges, including heavy reliance on imported health commodities. African countries currently import between 70 and 100 per cent of their pharmaceutical products, while approximately 99 per cent of vaccines used on the continent are imported.

Stakeholders emphasised that achieving health security requires more than responding to emergencies — it requires sustained investments in local manufacturing, innovation, health workforce development and resilient health systems that can serve populations now and in the future.

The gathering also reinforced a broader call for countries to view health not only as a social responsibility but as a foundation for economic growth, stability and prosperity. Strong health systems protect communities, support productive populations and strengthen countries’ ability to withstand future shocks.

The Summit was further elevated by the participation of the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, whose visit to Ghana reinforced WHO’s commitment to supporting African-led solutions for Africa’s health priorities. The WHO Director-General’s presence at the Summit reinforced the importance of collective leadership in shaping Africa’s health future. From strengthening primary health care and achieving universal health coverage to improving pandemic preparedness and expanding access to essential health products, discussions reflected a shared commitment to building a healthier and more resilient continent.

During his engagements in Ghana, Dr Tedros met with His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama, where discussions focused on strengthening health systems, advancing universal health coverage and ensuring that health remains central to national and continental development agendas.

He also visited the WHO Ghana Country Office, where he engaged staff and acknowledged their dedication and contribution to improving health outcomes in Ghana and beyond. Addressing colleagues, Dr Tedros encouraged staff to remain steadfast in their commitment to WHO’s mission and the people they serve, particularly during a period of evolving global health challenges.

“The strength of WHO is not measured only by the resources we have, but by the integrity, professionalism and commitment of our staff. A lack of funding will not break this Organization, but a lack of integrity will”, Dr Tedros told staff.

He urged colleagues to remain guided by science, facts and evidence, reminding them that WHO’s credibility depends on its ability to provide trusted health advice based on knowledge and impartiality.

“In a world of competing interests and opinions, do not take sides; stand with science, facts and evidence. That is what must guide our work every day”, he added.

Dr Tedros also engaged with the United Nations Country Team in Ghana, highlighting the importance of collaboration and partnership in advancing shared development goals and supporting countries to address complex health challenges.

For Ghana, the Extraordinary Summit on Health represented another milestone in its contribution to shaping Africa’s health agenda. Through continued collaboration with regional and global partners, the country remains committed to advancing solutions that place people at the centre of health development.

As Africa looks towards the future, the message from Accra was clear: achieving a healthier continent will require bold leadership, sustained investment and collective action. The journey towards health sovereignty may be challenging, but with shared commitment, scientific integrity and partnership, Africa can build health systems that are stronger, more equitable and better prepared for generations to come.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of WHO Regional Office for Africa.

Source: APO – Report:

The results of the 2025/2026 eighth-grade national examination have been officially announced. According to the report, 60% of the 65,876 students who sat for the examination earned passing marks, of whom 45% were female.

Noting that the examination was administered at 535 centers across the country, as well as in Sudan and Saudi Arabia, Mr. Girma’alem Tekie, Head of Evaluation and National Examinations at the Ministry of Education, said that 100% of the students who sat for the examination in Sudan and 99% of those who sat for it in Saudi Arabia earned passing marks.

The examination covered Mathematics, English Language, Civic Education, and Science.

Mr. Girma’alem noted that the efforts being undertaken to strengthen and expand preschools will have significant contribution to the improved results of the eighth-grade national examination and called for these efforts to be strengthened.

– on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

Source: APO – Report:

The Global Mercy, following her recent field service in Sierra Leone and scheduled annual maintenance period, arrived at the Port of Tema yesterday. This marks the beginning of a 10-month field service in partnership with the Government of Ghana, where the world’s largest purpose-built civilian hospital ship will offer free surgical care on board.

Welcoming Mercy Ships back to Ghana, His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama said “Health is not a luxury; it is the foundation of freedom. It is the currency of our dignity. It is our greatest public good, and so I am delighted to welcome Mercy Ships to Ghana.”

Although Ghana has one of the strongest healthcare systems in West Africa, bolstered by its ambitious National Surgical, Obstetric, and Anaesthesia Plan (NSOAP) launched in 2024, millions of people still face barriers to timely, safe, and affordable surgical care. Surgical specialists remain unevenly distributed, and district hospitals continue to face capacity challenges. This means many patients live with easily treatable conditions because surgery remains beyond their reach.

 “The development of this plan (NSOAP) is in line with our broader objectives for the health sector,” said Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Minister of Health, Ghana. “It ensures that essential surgical, obstetric, and anesthesia services are incorporated into Ghana’s universal health coverage strategy. This is an important step toward reducing maternal and child mortality, effectively managing trauma cases, and strengthening emergency and critical care services throughout the country.”

This is Mercy Ships’ fifth field service in Ghana and will combine free specialized surgery with education, mentoring, and workforce development. Patients from across the country have been invited to apply for free specialised surgical care, including cleft lip and palate repair, tumour removal, cataract surgery, reconstructive plastic surgery, obstetric fistula repair, paediatric orthopaedic surgery, and general surgery.

“Returning to Ghana is the continuation of a trusted partnership,” said Michael Nkeze, Mercy Ships Country Director for Ghana. “Together with the Ministry of Health and our national partners, we are investing not only in life-changing surgery for today’s patients, but also in stronger surgical systems that will benefit future generations.”

Since first arriving to Ghana in 1991, Mercy Ships has worked alongside the country’s government to deliver more than 2,670 surgical procedures and over 18,120 dental procedures, train more than 2,920 healthcare professionals, and impact nearly 15,000 direct medical beneficiaries.

Crewed by volunteer professionals from more than 70 countries, the Mercy Ships brings together surgeons, nurses, anaesthetists, engineers, teachers, cooks, and maritime professionals for one shared purpose.

Ghanaian volunteers also continue to play a crucial role in the Mercy Ships family as they did in the organization’s earliest days, with several among its longtime crew members.

Among these volunteers is Hospital Chaplain ‘Mama’ Clementine, one of Mercy Ships’ longest-serving crew members. She first encountered Mercy Ships in the 1990s, then joined the crew in 1997. With Ghanaian and Togolese roots, she was inspired by volunteers from around the world who had dedicated their lives to helping her people.

“Nearly 30 years ago, Mercy Ships captured my heart,” said Clementine. “Seeing people from around the world come together to serve Africa inspired me to dedicate my own life to this mission. Today, returning to Ghana feels like coming home. It is a privilege to serve my own people and to welcome every patient with dignity, compassion, and hope. When people who once felt forgotten or abandoned leave knowing they are loved, accepted, respected, and valued, that is why I find such deep purpose in my work.”

Over the next 10 months, that spirit of partnership in service will once again bring volunteers from around the world together with Ghanaian healthcare professionals to deliver life-changing surgery, while also strengthening the nation’s surgical care systems for generations to come.

– on behalf of Mercy Ships.

ABOUT MERCY SHIPS:
Mercy Ships operates hospital ships that deliver free surgeries and other healthcare services to those with little access to safe medical care. An international faith-based organization, Mercy Ships has focused entirely on partnering with African nations for the past three decades. Working with in-country partners, Mercy Ships also provides training to local healthcare professionals and supports the construction of in-country medical infrastructure to leave a lasting impact.

Each year, 2,500+ volunteer professionals from more than 70 countries serve on board the world’s two largest non-governmental hospital ships, the Africa Mercy® and the Global Mercy™. Professionals such as surgeons, dentists, nurses, health trainers, cooks, and engineers dedicate their time and skills to accelerate access to safe surgical and anesthetic care. Mercy Ships was founded in 1978 and has offices in 16 countries as well as an Africa Service Center in Dakar, Senegal. For more information, visit www.MercyShips.org and follow @MercyShips on social media.

Source: APO

Government has stayed the proposal that would have seen the suspension of facilitation for medical interns.

This will now see the current cohort of medical interns all earning a monthly net allowance of Shs1 million.

The Minister of Health, Hon. Chris Baryomunsi made the revelation during the House sitting on Tuesday, 18 August 2026 following weeks of public debate, media reports and strikes by interns opposed to the provisions contained in the National Education and Training for Health Policy.

“Cabinet recommended that we suspend that provision on facilitation and pay them as it has been. The current cohort of interns will all receive a net pay of Shs1 million,” Baryomunsi said adding that, ‘traditionally, government has been paying all interns but a new proposal had been passed that we distinguish those who were sponsored by government at university training from those who were privately sponsored. This has been giving interns discomfort’.

Under the contested policy, government-sponsored interns would continue receiving the full allowance while privately sponsored interns would only receive support for meals.

Baryomunsi said that government has expanded the number of internship centres to 77 and deployed 2,490 medical interns including doctors, pharmacists, dentists, graduate nurses and midwives.

The minister has been tasked by Cabinet to review the policy and prepare a comprehensive paper addressing human-resource challenges in the health sector, including the number of health professionals Uganda should train, their absorption into public service and appropriate remuneration.

Baryomunsi also announced the reversal of a proposal requiring medical students to undertake internship before graduation saying that students will continue graduating after completing their academic requirements, while internship will remain a separate requirement for professional practice.

The minister also revealed that they will engage the other government agencies to see that the medical interns who were arrested as they demonstrated against the earlier proposal, are released.

The Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi welcomed the decision but urged government to review the Shs1 million allowance saying its value had been affected by inflation.

“The interns deserve more. Times have changed; the terrain is different. That Shs1 million of many years ago cannot remain the same,” Ssenyonyi said.

He also asked government to establish a sustainable arrangement extending beyond the current cohort. 

“At least government has acknowledged that interns are medical doctors who need to be facilitated.  This particular rescinding is for this cohort meaning I will be back here complaining; we need to continue to facilitate these people. Let us have a discussion about facilitating these people,” Ssenyonyi said.

The Chairperson of the Committee on Health, Hon. Julius Rude called for internship facilitation to be entrenched in the national budget and urged government to provide safe accommodation for interns near their deployment facilities.

The Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa who chaired the sitting urged ministers to brief Parliament about Cabinet decisions with far-reaching consequences instead of allowing MPs to learn about them through the media as it was the case with interns pay.

“There are critical decisions you take in Cabinet which have far-reaching impacts. When you take them, come and update us so that we do not pick them from the public,” Tayebwa said.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

Source: APO – Report:

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South Africa has called for adequate, predictable and accessible financing, stronger capacity-building and equitable international cooperation to accelerate implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).

The call followed the conclusion of the seventh meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI-7), held in Nairobi, Kenya, from 4 to 12 August 2026. The meeting was a key final preparatory milestone ahead of the 2026 United Nations Biodiversity Conference, which will take place in Yerevan, Armenia, from 19 to 30 October 2026.

SBI-7 reviewed collective progress towards the 23 targets of the KMGBF and developed recommendations for consideration by the seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17) and the meetings of the Parties to the Cartagena and Nagoya Protocols.

South Africa participated actively in the negotiations, including through interventions on behalf of the African Group and the Group of Like-Minded Megadiverse Countries. The country emphasised that global ambition must be matched by the financial resources, technology transfer and institutional capacity required by developing countries to implement their commitments.

On resource mobilisation, South Africa expressed concern that international biodiversity finance remains below the level required to achieve Target 19(a) of the KMGBF, which calls for biodiversity-related international financial flows to developing countries of at least USD 20 billion annually by 2025 and USD 30 billion annually by 2030. South Africa maintained that the international biodiversity finance architecture must provide predictable, adequate and accessible support.

South Africa also supported continued oversight of the Cali Fund by the Conference of the Parties. The country stressed that contribution thresholds should not weaken the multilateral mechanism for sharing benefits arising from the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources. Non-monetary benefits should include access to technology, know-how, scientific cooperation and research results.

During discussions on the global review of KMGBF implementation, South Africa cautioned against creating new obligations or increasing reporting burdens. The country maintained that findings should be interpreted in accordance with national circumstances, capacities and development priorities.

South Africa further advocated for biodiversity to be integrated into the policies and practices of sectors such as mining, agriculture, fisheries and tourism, linking biodiversity conservation with sustainable development, economic transformation and poverty reduction. Parties were also urged to support cities and other local authorities in developing local biodiversity strategies and action plans, while addressing barriers that prevent local institutions from accessing finance.

On communication, education and public awareness, South Africa, on behalf of the African Group, welcomed the draft global plan of action for education on biodiversity. At South Africa’s proposal, the draft recommendation acknowledges the country’s hosting of the 2026 global celebration of the International Day for Biological Diversity under the theme, “Acting Locally for Global Impact.” South Africa also called for stronger alignment between the global plan and national biodiversity strategies and action plans, supported by adequate financial and technical resources.

The country supported the proposed thematic action plan on synthetic biology, while underscoring the need for dedicated and timely financing for capacity-building, technology transfer and knowledge-sharing. South Africa also advanced proposals to strengthen implementation and assessment of the Cartagena and Nagoya Protocols, including the operationalisation of access and benefit-sharing checkpoints, improved communication and regional cooperation.

South Africa further highlighted the technical and scientific support centre hosted by the South African National Biodiversity Institute and called for its full operationalisation as part of broader efforts to strengthen capacity-building and scientific cooperation.

While SBI-7 adopted several recommendations for consideration at COP17, significant differences remain, particularly on international finance and the operation of the multilateral mechanism on digital sequence information. South Africa will continue engaging constructively towards outcomes in Yerevan that translate global biodiversity commitments into equitable, adequately resourced and measurable implementation.

– on behalf of South African Government.

Source: APO

Parliament has approved a motion calling for improved geriatric healthcare and stronger social protection for older persons with legislators pressing government to honour its commitment to increase the Senior Citizens Grant for the Elderly (SAGE) from Shs25,000 to Shs35,000 a month.

Sironko District Woman Representative, Hon. Asha Mafabi moved the motion on Tuesday, 18 August 2026 amid concerns that Uganda’s growing population of older persons is struggling to access specialised healthcare, social protection and money meant to support them.

The debate also exposed the gap between government’s announcement of a higher SAGE and its implementation with the Minister of State for Elderly Affairs, Hon. Jacqueline Mbabazi admitting that the Shs35,000 payments was not provided for in the 2026/27 national budget.

She said government nevertheless needed to find the money because older persons were supporting millions of dependants.

“The people above 60 are looking after families with a population of 7.2 million people and they are the only ones looking after these people. And therefore, it is important to get that Shs35,000,” she said.

The motion noted that Uganda has more than 1.4 million people aged 60 and above many of whom face age related and non-communicable diseases, including hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, cancer and dementia.

Mafabi called for dedicated geriatric units, trained health workers, age friendly facilities, regular health check-ups and expanded community and home based healthcare, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas.

MPs also raised concerns about the accessibility of SAGE payments.

Kole South MP, Hon. Boniface Okot said older persons often travel long distances to receive the grant and urged government to explore alternative payment platforms.

“Government should consider accessible platforms like mobile money so that the older people do not travel these long distances,” Okot said.

He also questioned the cost of administering the programme saying about Shs30 billion of the approximately Shs120 billion allocated to SAGE goes towards administration.

Okot called for investment in specialist training noting that Uganda currently lacks institutions offering geriatric medicine at master’s level.

The shortage of specialists was echoed by Hon. Mbabazi who said Uganda has only three geriatric nurses and no formal training programme for geriatric healthcare personnel.

“As a ministry, we are engaging the Ministry of Health so that we discuss this area of geriatric care,” she said adding that government is also engaging Makerere University to introduce geriatric doctors and nursing training.

The Chief Government Whip, Hon. Jane Ruth Aceng however, said geriatric care had already been incorporated into the National Development Plan IV, including provisions for training doctors and nurses.

Aceng also cautioned against creating a health insurance scheme exclusively for older persons arguing that a national scheme based on solidarity will provide better protection.

“If we are to have an insurance targeted only to the elderly, as a country we are likely to fail. We need an insurance scheme that covers all of us, including the children because the principle is solidarity,” she added.

Rukiga County MP, Hon. Patrick Kiconco said reducing the eligibility age to 65, as previously announced by government will increase beneficiaries to about one million and require substantially more funding.

He proposed a phased expansion beginning with older age groups before eventually covering everyone aged 65 and above.

Kiconco said the current programme supports about 316,000 older persons and warned that the 65-year threshold requires an additional Shs252 billion bringing the total annual requirement to Shs373 billion if the grant is set at Shs35,000.

Older Persons Representative, Hon. Catherine Mavenjina Akumu urged government to introduce health insurance for older persons as they await the promised increase in SAGE.

Ntenjeru County South MP, Hon. Fred Baseke described support for older persons as a national obligation saying many remained in poverty while dealing with chronic illnesses and limited access to healthcare.

“Investing in older persons is not a burden on government. It is an investment in dignity, welfare and social stability,” Baseke said.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.