The Africa
HealthTech Summit (AHTS) has officially opened in Kigali, drawing together a
diverse assembly of tech experts, health professionals, inventors, and health
tech startups from across the continent.
This highly
anticipated summit opened with a compelling ceremony that set a clear and
inspiring vision for the future of health innovation in Africa. Dr. Jean
Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, alongside Belen Calvo Uyarra, EU
Ambassador to Rwanda, and Rwanda’s Minister of Health, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana,
delivered key addresses underscoring the importance of collaborative efforts to
strengthen Africa’s health sector through technology and digital innovation.
A highlight of
the day was the panel discussion titled “Innovating for Community Health:
Unlocking the Power of AI.” During this session, Ella Schieber, Head of the
Department of Africa Supraregional and Horn of Africa at Deutsche Gesellschaft
für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, praised the leadership of Africa
CDC, the Rwandan government, and Smart Africa for their roles in orchestrating
AHTS 2024. Representing GIZ and the German government, Schieber reaffirmed
Germany’s commitment to supporting Africa’s digital health transformation. She
emphasized the alignment of these efforts with the African Union's Agenda 2063,
which envisions “The Africa We Want.”
This year's
AHTS, centered around digital health transformation, aims to explore how
artificial intelligence, data analytics, and innovative health technologies can
be harnessed to enhance community health outcomes across the continent. Rwanda’s
Minister of Health, Dr. Nsanzimana, expressed his optimism for Rwanda’s role as
a hub for health technology, highlighting the nation’s commitment to enabling a
robust digital health ecosystem.
Throughout the
summit, stakeholders and innovators will collaborate on key issues such as the
integration of AI in healthcare, strengthening digital health infrastructure,
and developing scalable tech-driven solutions for public health challenges. The
event will also serve as a networking ground for health tech startups, allowing
them to engage with investors and potential partners, thus creating
opportunities to accelerate health innovation in Africa.
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
