22 October 2025, Durban, South Africa - The 4th International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA 2025) opened today at the Durban International Convention Centre, launching a four-day convening under the theme: "Moving Towards Self-Reliance to Achieve Universal Health Coverage and Health Security in Africa." The conference will spotlight African-led innovations, policy solutions, and research aimed at building resilient, self-reliant health care systems, tailored to the needs of citizens across the continent.
The conference spotlights African-led innovations, policy solutions, and research aimed at building resilient and self-reliant health systems, tailored to the needs of citizens across the continent.
Hosted by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and co-organised with the Government of South Africa and AfricaBio's BIO Africa Convention, the opening ceremony brought together local, regional, and global delegates, including ministers of health, leading scientists, youth leaders, and civil society.
More than 20 countries are expected to converge in Durban, including representatives from global agencies such as the African Union Commission, the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, Gavi, and the Global Fund, among others.
H.E. Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director-General of Africa CDC, emphasised the continent's evolving role on the global stage: "For the first time, Africa is inspiring the world. The world is coming to learn from Africa. This reform of the global architecture means we are co-architects. We are 1.4 billion proud Africans making our own agenda. We are proud of that."
South Africa is the third country to host the conference since its inception in 2021. This year's gathering serves as a vital precursor to the G20 Health Ministers' meeting in early November under South Africa's G20 Presidency. At its close this Saturday, CPHIA 2025 will result in an outcome statement that advances Africa's health future, ensuring African-led solutions remain central to global health reform.
Dr. Joe Phaahla, Deputy Minister of Health, Republic of South Africa, outlined the conference's core imperative: "Every decision we take here must move us closer to health equity, economic inclusion and social justice. Through African leadership and global solidarity, we can build a future where our health systems are financed, powered, and sustained by Africans themselves, ensuring that no community anywhere in this continent is left behind."
Discussions will explore strategic priorities shaping Africa's health future, including strengthening health financing and accountability; scaling digital health and telemedicine; expanding access to primary health care and universal coverage; accelerating local production of vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics; and integrating climate resilience and One Health approaches to address emerging health threats.
Dr. Nhlanhla Msomi, President of AfricaBio, underscored the urgency of building innovation capacity: "We know that our healthcare industry on the continent at large is using borrowed technologies, borrowed ideas, and borrowed science. Unless we move away and decouple from that, we're not likely to win this battle."
The conference represents a critical platform for public health leaders to define Africa's innovation agenda and drive African-owned solutions to the continent's unique health challenges.
By fostering collaboration between scientists, policymakers, and industry leaders, CPHIA 2025 charts a course toward a future where Africa's health systems are powered by homegrown innovation and expertise.
For additional information about the conference and to register for the event, please visit www.cphia2025.com.
