Strengthening Healthcare Infrastructure & Systems in Africa
Thursday, March 23, 1:45 - 3:00 PM PST
Session Description
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic underscores the fragility and inequities of Africa’s healthcare infrastructure. According to the African Development Bank’s Strategy for Quality Health Infrastructure in Africa (2021), only half of the primary healthcare facilities in sub-Saharan Africa have access to clean water and adequate sanitation. The World Economic Forum notes that less than 10% of 1.2 billion people in Africa have been vaccinated compared to 50% of other countries. This historic public health crisis has infused urgency and built momentum in strengthening health systems in Africa.
- What would comprise a new public health order to improve healthcare infrastructure and institutions in Africa?
- How can the continent overcome longstanding challenges and inefficiencies, including the brain drain, gaps in legislation and implementation, and a lack of coordination in healthcare development?
- What role can governments, NGOs, corporations, and multilateral agencies play in providing and stewarding resources to help communities affected by COVID-19 and prepare for future health threats?
This session explores innovative and practical approaches to shaping the future of health and healthcare in Africa.
Moderator
Dr. Josephine Fubara
Chief Science Officer, Consumer Healthcare; Sanofi
Dr. Josephine Fubara is the Chief Science Officer for Sanofi’s Consumer Healthcare business, where she leads a global team responsible for managing the organization’s end-to end science agenda and operations spanning five categories covering pain care, allergy, digestive wellness, cough, cold & flu, and physical & mental wellness, representing over €5.0 billion (2022) of business. Josephine is a purpose-driven leader, building high-performing teams and delivering impactful everyday health & well-being for consumers & patients around the world, with the goal to make self-care simple and bring health in their hands.
Panelists
Emma Andrews, Pharm.D.
Vice President, Global Patient Advocacy, Pfizer
Emma Andrews, Pharm.D., is Pfizer’s Vice President, Global Patient Advocacy, leading the organization’s work to embed the patient perspective across all of Pfizer’s efforts – from bench to bedside, and beyond. A registered pharmacist, Emma is passionate about helping people live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. In her current role, Emma works with internal and external stakeholders to advance patient-focused programs across the enterprise. Emma joined Pfizer in 1999 and has held a variety of positions in Operations, Research, and Strategy. Most recently, Emma was Senior Director US/Global Medical Affairs Team Lead for the Women’s Health Franchise.
Dr. Amadou A Sall
CEO, Institut Pasteur de Dakar in Senegal, Director, WHO Collaborating Center for Arboviruses and Viral Hemorrhagic Fever
Dr. Amadou A Sall is the CEO of Institut Pasteur de Dakar in Senegal and director of the WHO collaborating center for Arboviruses and viral hemorrhagic fever. He has been chairman of the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network and a member of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness and Innovation (CEPI) Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Sall is a virologist with a Ph.D. in Public health. He is an expert in epidemics response and control, more specifically for arboviruses and viral hemorrhagic fevers (Ebola, Zika, Yellow fever…). He is a member of several expert committees for WHO (GOARN, TDR, SAGE, STAG-IH…) and OIE. Dr. Sall is the co-chair of the COVID-19 laboratory technical working group of the Africa Center for Disease Control and a member of the task force for COVID-19 in Senegal.
Dr. Kwasi Boahene
Director Health Systems, PharmAccess Group
Kwasi Boahene is Director of Health Systems at PharmAccess Group. He is a champion of sustainable financing and innovations of African health and development systems for the past 3 decades. Dr. Boahene believes that with good governance, sustainable investments and innovations, everybody in Africa, irrespective of their wealth, can have access to better care. The work of PharmAccess has received many international recognitions, including G20 SME Finance Challenge Award 2010 (received from President Obama), Saving Lives at Birth Award (2014) – a global call for groundbreaking solutions to infant and maternal mortality, Financial Times/IFC Transformational Business Award in Health (2016, 2017) and Commonwealth Digital Health Awards for Maternal Health (2020).