The 4th East African Health Summit took place in London and looked for ways to support the UK and East African governments with responding to current and future health issues, as well as achieving greater investment in African healthcare systems.
The summit was supported by the Uganda UK Health Alliance, British Medical Association (BMA), British Medical Journal (BMJ), NHS Health Education England, and headline sponsors Morningside Pharmaceuticals.
Delegations from the UK and African governments, NHS leaders, policy makers and representatives from African ministries of health came together with international healthcare experts, investors, solution providers and business leaders.
One success story from the past year saw Everton Football Club send a representative to attend the UK East Africa Health Improvement Summit in Uganda, as well as pledging the Club’s charitable support for 5 years to the West Nile refugee operation in East Africa.
Part of the summit looked to private sector businesses to provide innovative solutions and investment in African healthcare systems.
The Department for International Trade (DIT) also led a break-out session in the House of Lords, chaired by Lord Dolar Popat the UK Trade Envoy to Rwanda and Uganda, where business leaders looked at how promoting private sector engagement and UK exports can strengthen bilateral trade across the East African markets.
Another healthcare priority area for the summit was to explore how governments are supporting major health issues, particularly Malaria.
The session was hosted by Jeremy Lefroy MP, Chair of All-Party Parliamentary Group on Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases, which aimed to raise awareness of malaria and neglected tropical diseases amongst parliamentarians; and to encourage the UK Government to provide political will, leadership and sustainable funding for the necessary prevention and treatment of these diseases.
The summit also looked for fresh ways to galvanise investment in Research and Development including malaria vaccines and treatment drugs, new generations of insecticides and genetic modifications, which would be designed to eliminate malaria carrying mosquitoes or prevent transmission.
