Nairobi, Kenya, 8 July 2026 Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), together with the African Union Commission, Member States and partners, has opened a three-day regional policy validation workshop in Nairobi to accelerate continental action on maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health.
The Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (SRMNCAH) Policy Validation Workshop for Southern and Eastern Africa is taking place from 8 to 10 July 2026. It brings together representatives from 23 African Union Member States, regional institutions, technical experts and development partners to validate findings from a continent-wide assessment of SRMNCAH policies, financing, governance, service delivery and accountability.
The workshop advances Africa CDC’s Health Security and Sovereignty Agenda and supports the African Union Champion for Maternal and Child Health initiative, led by H.E. Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania. The Champion’s agenda places maternal, newborn and child survival at the centre of Africa’s development, health security and sovereignty priorities.
Delivering opening remarks on behalf of H.E. Dr Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, Dr Lul Pout Riek, Special Representative of the Director General for the Eastern Africa Regional Coordinating Centre, said maternal and child survival must remain a continental leadership priority.
“Africa’s health security is measured in the lives of women, newborns, children and adolescents. Every preventable death reflects a gap in governance, financing, equity, access and accountability,” Dr Lul said.
He called on Member States and partners to use the workshop as a platform for implementation and measurable progress.
“Let this workshop be remembered as the moment where we chose implementation over intention, partnership over fragmentation, and action over aspiration. History will remember the lives we saved,” he said.
Representing H.E. Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, Hon. Ummy Mwalimu, Head of Secretariat and Advisor to the President, reaffirmed the AU Champion’s commitment to mobilising political leadership across the continent.
She said the Champion’s roadmap is aligned with Agenda 2063, the Africa Health Strategy, Africa CDC’s Health Security and Sovereignty Agenda, and other continental commitments. The roadmap advances three measurable goals: zero maternal deaths, zero preventable newborn deaths and zero unvaccinated children.
“The challenge before us is no longer identifying solutions. Africa knows what works. Our responsibility now is to implement those solutions at scale, strengthen accountability and ensure sustainable financing,” Hon. Mwalimu said.
Providing the technical framing for the workshop, Dr Diana Nambatya Nsubuga, Head of Division for Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health at Africa CDC, said Africa is navigating a rapidly changing health financing landscape marked by declining external assistance, increasing debt burdens, climate-related shocks and continued dependence on imported health commodities.
“The change we need is moving from dependency to ownership, from vulnerability to resilience, and from aspiration to action,” Dr Nambatya Nsubuga said.
She outlined five strategic priorities for achieving the AU Champion’s vision: stronger primary health care, predictable domestic financing, accelerated digital transformation, expanded local manufacturing of health commodities and medicines, and a reformed global health architecture led by Africa.
Dr Nambatya Nsubuga also announced that 50 of 55 African Union Member States, representing 91 percent, have completed the continental SRMNCAH policy assessment. Africa CDC is following up with the remaining five Member States to ensure full continental representation.
The assessment will culminate in the first comprehensive continental report examining the policy, financing and health system drivers of maternal, newborn and child health outcomes across Africa.
The Ministry of Health of Kenya welcomed delegates and reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to strengthening maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health through investments in primary health care, emergency obstetric services, community health systems, health infrastructure, digital health and stronger accountability mechanisms.
Representatives from the African Union Commission, East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC), the World Health Organization, UNICEF, UNFPA, PMNCH and Pathfinder commended Africa CDC for leading a continent-wide evidence generation process that will support national policymaking, strengthen accountability and accelerate progress towards ending preventable maternal and child deaths.
Throughout the three-day workshop, participants will analyse country findings, validate evidence, identify policy and financing gaps, exchange good practices and agree on priority actions to strengthen implementation of high-impact interventions across Member States.
The validated continental assessment will support evidence-informed policymaking, domestic resource mobilisation and stronger accountability while advancing the African Union Champion’s agenda and Africa CDC’s vision of a healthier, more resilient and self-reliant Africa.
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About Africa CDC
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention is the public health agency of the African Union. As an autonomous institution, Africa CDC supports AU Member States to strengthen health systems, improve disease surveillance, and enhance emergency preparedness and response. For more information, visit: http://www.africacdc.org and follow Africa CDC on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and YouTube.
Media contact
Saran Koly
Director of Communications and Public Information | kolys@africacdc.org | +251 98 434 6488
