Ghana Hosts AU's First Health Summit to End AIDS, Tuberculosis by 2030

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Ghana has taken the lead in hosting the African Union's (AU) first Extraordinary Health Summit on July 21 and 22. The summit will bring together African Heads of State and Government to adopt a fully costed continental roadmap to end AIDS and tuberculosis by 2030.

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, made a call to action ahead of the summit. He urged governments, development partners, the private sector, civil society organisations, and health professionals to support the initiative and work collectively to improve healthcare outcomes across Africa. “I call upon member states, partners, the private sector, civil society, health professionals and all Africans to join us in Accra as we forge a new continental compact for healthier communities and a more prosperous Africa. Together we can build the Africa we want; healthy, resilient and prepared for the future,” he said.

The two-day summit will also focus on tackling preventable maternal deaths, communicable and non-communicable diseases prevalent across the continent, while advancing strategies to strengthen Africa’s health systems by the end of the decade. In preparation for the summit, the AU has been engaging with stakeholders to finalise a comprehensive roadmap that includes strategies for improving access to healthcare services, increasing health funding, and enhancing health infrastructure.

Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, has been at the forefront of efforts to improve healthcare in Africa. He was appointed as the Chairperson in 2022 and has since made healthcare a top priority for the AU.

The African Union's commitment to ending AIDS and tuberculosis by 2030 is a critical step towards achieving sustainable development goals. The two diseases have had a devastating impact on communities across Africa, with millions of people living with or dying from them each year. By adopting a comprehensive roadmap, African leaders are taking a crucial step towards addressing the health challenges that have held the continent back for far too long.

The summit promises to be a significant event in Africa's fight against diseases. It will bring together leaders from across the continent to discuss and agree on a comprehensive plan to end AIDS and tuberculosis by 2030. The plan will include strategies for improving access to healthcare services, increasing health funding, and enhancing health infrastructure.

The meeting in Accra will also provide an opportunity for African leaders to commit to increasing health funding. The AU has estimated that an additional $1.5 billion is needed annually to achieve the goal of ending AIDS and tuberculosis by 2030. By committing to increase health funding, African leaders can help to ensure that communities across the continent have access to the healthcare services they need.

Key Facts

• 21-22 July: Dates of the AU's Extraordinary Health Summit in Accra • 2030: Deadline for achieving the goal of ending AIDS and tuberculosis • $1.5 billion: Additional funding needed annually to achieve the goal • Accra: Host city of the summit • Mahmoud Ali Youssouf: Chairperson of the African Union Commission • African Union: Organising the summit