Self-Care, Health Literacy, and Sustainable Financing

Building Health Resilience through Innovation and Community

Co-hosted by: African Diaspora Network & Opella

Overview

Healthcare systems around the world are under strain. Rising costs, workforce shortages, and persistent inequities mean that millions of people cannot consistently access formal care. For many communities across Africa, Asia, and beyond, self-care is not a supplement to healthcare – it is the first and sometimes only option available.

Self-care, when paired with strong health literacy, can play a transformative role. It empowers individuals to understand their health, make informed decisions, and take proactive steps toward wellness. It also reduces demand on overstretched health systems, freeing resources for those with the most critical needs. But for self-care to truly reach its potential, people must have access to clear information, trusted networks of guidance, and sustainable models that ensure tools and services remain available and affordable.

This is where the issue of sustainable financing becomes critical. Without innovative financing solutions — from blended capital to diaspora-backed investment — self-care initiatives often remain small-scale, underfunded, and inaccessible to the communities that need them most.

The 2025 Impact and Innovation Forum will bring together entrepreneurs, scientists, health professionals, and diaspora leaders to tackle these questions head-on. The forum is designed not just to exchange ideas, but to surface actionable solutions and pathways for individuals, businesses, and communities to strengthen self-care practices, expand health literacy, and identify financing mechanisms that can make these solutions scalable and lasting.

Why Attend?

  • Discover global best practices: Learn from groundbreaking innovations in self-care and health literacy that can be adapted to African and diaspora contexts.
  • Explore financing opportunities: Gain insights into sustainable funding models – from diaspora investment platforms to blended finance – that can expand access to self-care solutions.
  • Leverage diaspora influence: Network with diaspora entrepreneurs, investors, and scientists, and connect with African institutions to spark transformative partnerships.
  • Shape the action agenda: Contribute to defining ADN’s priorities – supporting scalable ventures, inclusive innovation ecosystems, and stronger policy advocacy.
  • Leave empowered: Walk away with practical, actionable strategies to enhance your health, strengthen your ventures, and advance global self-care.

Speakers

Dr. Mohamed Hassany
Dr. Mohamed Hassany
Health Minister’s Assistant for Projects and Public Health Initiatives at the Ministry of Health and Population in Egypt
Panelist
Dr.Deepa Maharaj
Deepa Maharaj
Global HCP Strategic Catalyst, Opella
Panelist
Dr. Sham Moodley
Dr. Sham Moodley
Joint Chair of the Pharmacy Stakeholders Forum (PSF)- Pricing Regulations
Context Setter
Chibuzo Opara
Chibuzo Opara
CEO at DrugStoc, Nigeria
Panelist

Greg Perry

Director-General,The Global Self-Care Federation (GSCF)
Moderator