At the 3rd International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA), the Africa CDC, alongside strategic partners, announced the introduction of the Trusted Health Initiative under the 4D Initiative. This marks a significant move in digitizing Africa's health systems, building on the success of the Panabios Trusted Travel platform.
The Trusted Travel platform, a public-private partnership led by the PanaBIOS Consortium, Econet Group, and Africa CDC, played a pivotal role in managing COVID-19 travel with reliable test certificate verification and harmonized entry/exit screenings. Leveraging this model, the new Trusted Health platform aims to revolutionize healthcare across Africa with an AI-enabled Trusted health wallet, facilitating integration between public health systems and private health innovations.
Supported with over USD 100M and extending to 22 African Union Member States, the Trusted Health movement, represents a major stride in transforming Africa's public health landscape. It combines e-genomics, e-diagnostics, and e-therapeutics for a comprehensive approach to health.
Dr. Ahmed Ogwell Ouma,the Africa CDC Ag. Deputy Director General representing H.E. Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General emphasized Africa CDC's commitment to this transformative healthcare approach, highlighting the coalition's goals to reduce public health incidents and improve response times through strategic use of technology.
A representative from the African Union New Partnership for Africa's Development (AUDA -NEPAD) Director Symerre Grey-Johnson, speaking on behalf for Ms. Nardos Bekele-Thomas, stressed the focus on digital health, diagnostics, human resource development, and manufacturing. Mr Symerre highlighted the key role of digitalization in healthcare, under the leadership of H.E President Paul Kagame.
The meeting also underscored the importance of collaboration and coordination in aligning digital health strategies with local priorities. Regional and continental platforms for interoperable healthcare solutions were recognized as vital for achieving integration and addressing universal health access and promoting equity.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced USD 18 million commitment to support Artificial Intelligence (AI) implementation in Africa, aiming to reduce inequality and ensure marginalized populations benefit from technological health advancements.
Additionally, representatives from Mastercard Foundation and the Office of US Global Health Security and U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief
(PEPFAR), and West African Health Organization (WAHO) pledged their support for the roll out of the AI-enabled Africa Trusted Health Platforms and Digital Wallets.
The Ministers of Health Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Namibia as well as the Kenyan Presidential Advisor on Health emphasized the pivotal roles their countries played in adopting the PanaBios Trusted Travel and Trusted Vaccines platforms. They expressed their commitment to the Digital Trusted Health Wallets for their citizens. They underscored Africa's role in leading AI development tailored to specific continental needs, focusing on youth engagement and empowerment in AI-driven problem-solving.
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This forum was fundamental as it underscored the importance of the digital transformation, highlighting the Trusted Digital Health Wallet and primary healthcare digitalization as key steps towards harnessing digital technology in healthcare.
About Africa CDC: Africa CDC is an autonomous continental health agency of the African Union, supporting public health initiatives and strengthening the capacities of Member States' health institutions. For more information, visit Africa CDC http://www.africacdc.org.
