AFRICA PRIMARY HEALTH CARE FORUM

Introduction

Almost half a century since the Alma Ata conference on primary health care, the African continent faces significant health challenges, including a high burden of infectious and non-communicable diseases, inadequate health infrastructure, and a severe shortage of healthcare workers. Despite progress made towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Africa still accounts for some of the most disheartening indices across global disease burden and maternal mortality, including malaria and HIV/AIDS cases.

Primary Health Care (PHC) is essential for addressing these challenges, as it provides comprehensive, community-based, and people-centered care. However, PHC systems in Africa face numerous challenges, including:

1. ?Inadequate health workforce: Africa has a shortage of 4.2 million healthcare workers.?Africa has a ratio of 1.55 health workers (physicians, nurses, and midwives) per 1000 people, and it is projected that the shortage of health workers in Africa will reach 6.1 million by 2030 (WHO 2022
2. Over 50% of the African population lacks access to essential medicine (WHO)
3. Inadequate infrastructure: 50% of African health facilities lack basic infrastructure. Over 40% of PHCs facilities in Africa do not have access to basic water and sanitation services, 60% do not have access to reliable electricity? (AfDBG 2022)

The COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed these vulnerabilities, highlighting the need for strengthened PHC systems to respond to current and future health crises. It equally opened up opportunities to explore the potential of health technologies to leapfrog some of the attendant challenges in the system.

The West African Institute of Public Health (WAIPH) is pleased to announce the inaugural Africa Primary Health Care Forum (APHCF), scheduled for July 24-25, 2025, in Abuja, Nigeria. This timely convening aims to reflect, innovate, and revitalize primary health care (PHC) systems, which are crucial for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and health security in Africa.

The APHCF aims to address these challenges by convening multisectoral stakeholders to strengthen PHC systems across Africa, focusing on health workforce development, service delivery, and policy advancements.

Importance of the Convening

Forty-six years after the landmark Declaration of Alma-Ata, primary health care remains the cornerstone of health systems worldwide. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed weaknesses in Africa's health systems, highlighting the urgent need for a strong PHC workforce to deliver essential public health functions and resilient service delivery. As the continent strives for UHC and health security, a skilled, digitally responsive, and adequate PHC workforce is crucial for success.

?Objectives

The Africa Primary Health Care Forum aims to convene multisectoral stakeholders to strengthen primary health care (PHC) systems across Africa, focusing on health workforce development, service delivery, and policy advancements.

1. To strengthen Primary Health Care (PHC) post-pandemic, focusing on gaining traction on the WHO Health Workforce Roadmap and exploring health workforce digitization at the PHC level.

2. To build a skilled and resilient PHC workforce, leveraging on Africa's demographic bulge and digital health innovations.

3. To foster multisectoral partnerships, engaging stakeholders, and leveraging collaborations to strengthen PHC systems and achieve UHC and health security.

“The inaugural International Africa Primary Health Care Forum (APHCF) offers a timely platform for stakeholders to convene, share knowledge, and galvanise action towards achieving Universal Health Coverage and health security, in line with the third pillar of the Africa’s New Public Health Order1 , that harps on Investment in Public Health Workforce and Leadership Programmes to ensure Africa has the workforce it needs to address health threats.”        

The inaugural International Africa Primary Health Care Forum addresses this critical need, focusing on building national workforces for essential public health functions and resilient primary health care service delivery. Building on the World Health Organisation’s Public Health and Emergency Workforce Roadmap and leveraging on digital health innovations, this inaugural summit will focus on the health workforce pillar and explore strategies for strengthening primary health care systems, building a skilled and resilient workforce, and fostering multisectoral partnerships. By bringing together Ministries of Health and relevant Agencies, health workforce development professionals, digital health experts, and community health workers, we can harness collective expertise to address the complex health challenges facing African communities.

Themes

1. Strengthening PHC Post-Pandemic: Lessons Learned and Future Directions

2. Health Workforce Roadmap: Country Experiences and Progress

3. Digitisation of PHC Workforce: Opportunities, Challenges, and Success Stories

4. Building a Strong and Skilled PHC Workforce for UHC and Health Security?

Expected Outcomes

- Enhanced commitment to strengthening PHC systems in African countries

- Increased adoption of digital health technologies in PHC settings

- Strengthened PHC workforce capacity and skills

- Improved PHC service delivery and community engagement

- Strengthened health systems and leadership for UHC and health security

?Key Potential Partnership and Collaboration The event will be hosted by the West African Institute of Public Health (WAIPH), in collaboration with key partners at regional and national levels, hence these key partners will be invited to be part of this convening:

Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare (FMoHSW) Nigeria, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) Nigeria and other Ministries and relevant public agencies in the region, Africa CDC, WHO, UNICEF, UNAIDS, UNFPA, WAHO, Health Development Platform for Africa and the Carribeans (HeDPAC), National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs), Nonstate Public Health Institutes (NSPHIs) Foundations, NGOs, CBOs, and other key stakeholders to ensure the success of the summit.

Be part of this landmark convening.?

Partnership as part of the APHCF Partnership, Keynote Speaking Opportunities and Sponsorship are open.