Rwandan President Paul Kagame has held a discussion in efforts to strengthen public health in Africa, in a meeting with Dr. Jean Kaseya, the Director General of Africa CDC, the continental health agency that builds capacity to ensure effective responses to diseases.
The discussion particularly focused on domestic health financing, vaccine manufacturing, and digital health, according to the Office of the President.
The high-level meeting explored innovative ways to leverage technology in order to improve healthcare systems across the continent.
Dr Kaseya was in Kigali for the Africa HealthTech Summit, taking place as part of the Mobile World Congress.
Rwanda has been making strides in strengthening its health sector by tapping into vaccine manufacturing, including mRNA vaccines for COVID-19, among other diseases.
With the COVID-19 pandemic underscoring the need for robust healthcare infrastructure, President Kagame and Dr. Nkengasong emphasised the transformative potential of digital solutions in addressing critical healthcare challenges.
Earlier in October, President Kagame inaugurated IRCAD Africa, a high-tech centre for research and training in minimally invasive surgery.
The centre built in Kigali’s burgeoning 100-hectare medical city will also host Rwanda’s largest hospital, CHUK, a heart treatment centre, medical schools, pharmaceutical centres, and modern laboratories, among other key facilities.
With the establishment of key health infrastructure, including schools, hospitals and vaccine manufacturing projects coupled with digital transformation, the country wants to position itself as Africa’s medical hub.
The leaders recognized that digital health platforms can revolutionize healthcare delivery by enabling timely data collection, real-time monitoring, and efficient resource allocation. Through the adoption of digital tools, African countries can bridge existing healthcare gaps, strengthen healthcare systems, and improve overall patient outcomes.