Hub | Africa Economic Forum International Development

Overview

In an era where health threats transcend borders, the Global Health Security Africa Hub stands as a beacon of hope and resilience. Established in 2023, this hub represents a collective endeavour by the Africa Economic Forum International Development and its partners to bolster Africa’s defences against health emergencies. The hub’s mission is to transform the continent’s response to health crises by enhancing the capabilities of primary healthcare systems through strategic support, resource allocation, and expertise sharing.

Vision & Mission

Vision

Our vision is to position the Global Health Security Africa Hub as a premier institution, leading the charge in establishing robust primary healthcare systems across Africa. We aim to create a future where every individual on the continent has access to quality healthcare, ensuring their well-being and prosperity.

Mission

Our mission is to serve as a pillar of support for Africa’s primary healthcare infrastructure. We are committed to providing comprehensive technical assistance, training, and financial resources to facilitate the development of resilient healthcare initiatives. By fostering knowledge exchange and best practices among stakeholders, we strive to uphold the principles of the International Health Regulations and the One Health approach.

Aims & Objectives

The aims of the Global Health Security Africa Hub are to:

To reinforce the primary healthcare framework as the cornerstone of the health system, ensuring first-contact access to essential services.
To elevate the health status of the African populace by delivering holistic, integrated, and patient-centric health services.
To bridge the gap in health equity and realize the goal of universal health coverage by making primary healthcare accessible, affordable, and of high quality for everyone.

Our objectives are clear-cut:

To extend technical support, training, and funding to healthcare initiatives across Africa, focusing on our four pillars: universal health coverage, health security, health information systems, and workforce development.
To cultivate a collaborative environment for knowledge sharing among diverse healthcare stakeholders, including governmental bodies, healthcare institutions, NGOs, and community organizations.
To champion the implementation of global health standards and foster a multidisciplinary approach to health risks through the One Health framework.
To advocate for the integration of digital innovation in healthcare, leveraging tools like mobile health applications, electronic health records, and AI to revolutionize health data management and service delivery.
To campaign for enhanced and enduring financial investment in primary healthcare, promoting social safety nets and health insurance models.

Governance:

The governance of the Global Health Security Africa Hub is entrusted to a steering committee composed of esteemed representatives from the AEF, AEFID, and other pivotal development partners. This committee is the strategic heart of the hub, ensuring that our performance aligns with our vision and that we remain accountable to our stakeholders. Meetings are convened biannually, guided by a well-defined terms of reference and a stringent code of conduct.

Operational management is delegated to the hub director, a role appointed by and accountable to the steering committee. The director orchestrates a dedicated team of staff, consultants, and volunteers, steering the hub’s diverse activities and projects. This leadership extends to fostering relationships with primary healthcare stakeholders, ensuring their involvement and benefit from the hub’s initiatives.

A technical advisory group, comprising distinguished experts from various healthcare-related disciplines, provides invaluable advice to both the steering committee and the hub director. Meeting annually, this group’s insights shape the technical and strategic trajectory of the hub’s endeavours.

Adherence to exemplary governance principles is non-negotiable for the hub. We embody accountability, transparency, integrity, stewardship, efficiency, and leadership in all our actions. Our operations are in strict compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and ethical standards, ensuring the prudent use of resources and the maximization of societal impact.

What We Do

The Global Health Security Africa Hub is actively engaged in:

Promoting Universal Health Coverage:

We are at the forefront of advocating for health services that are universally accessible and financially feasible. Collaborating with authorities and organizations, we develop policies and programs that guarantee the provision of comprehensive primary healthcare services.

Bolstering Health Security:

Our efforts are geared towards fortifying the continent against health emergencies. We work tirelessly to enhance the preparedness and response capabilities of healthcare systems, supporting adherence to International Health Regulations and the One Health approach.

Why We Do It

We believe that robust primary healthcare is the linchpin of health improvement. It is the gateway to health services that can significantly uplift the health and well-being of individuals and communities. Despite the challenges faced by Africa’s healthcare systems, we see a future brimming with promise. Through sustained investment, innovation, and collaboration, we can unlock the full potential of primary healthcare for the continent’s betterment.

How We Do It

Our approach is comprehensive and inclusive, embracing the complexity of the healthcare landscape. We employ a data-driven culture that values evidence-based decision-making, ensuring that our strategies are informed by reliable data and tailored to the unique needs of the African context.

Adopting a User-Centric Design

The hub’s philosophy is grounded in a user-centric design, placing the needs and expectations of healthcare users at the forefront. We engage with communities and stakeholders throughout the healthcare cycle, ensuring that our services are not only relevant and timely but also actionable and impactful.

Global Health Security Africa Hub