With health systems across Africa buckling under the weight of chronic diseases, drug-resistant infections, and underfunded public health programmes, the Gatefield Health Summit 2025 is set to convene global and regional leaders in Abuja to chart a new course for the continent’s health resilience.
The two-day summit, scheduled for October 22–23 at Nile University, will bring together policymakers, researchers, and private sector players to explore solutions to Africa’s growing health and financing challenges.
Sub-Saharan Africa, according to organisers, faces a defining test in health system reform. Fewer than eight percent of people in the region have any form of health insurance, even as the prevalence of chronic diseases accelerates faster than anywhere else in the world. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease now account for nearly one in four deaths across the continent.
Health experts warn that drug-resistant infections are fast emerging as Africa’s deadliest threat, killing more people than HIV/AIDS or malaria. Projections suggest that if unchecked, antimicrobial resistance could claim 10 million lives annually by 2050, surpassing cancer as the world’s top killer.
The summit will also spotlight the imbalance between Africa’s disease burden and its share of global health funding. The continent bears 25 percent of global disease yet receives only three percent of total health spending. Each year, 150 million Africans are pushed into poverty by catastrophic health expenses, reflecting weak financing systems and poor access to affordable care.
Women’s and mental health will feature prominently on the agenda. Half of African women of reproductive age are anaemic, and millions still struggle to access contraceptives, maternal care, and HIV prevention services. At the same time, more than 116 million Africans live with mental health conditions, yet less than two percent of global health funding addresses this growing crisis.
Warning signs, experts say, are everywhere: one in three adults in Africa has high blood pressure; one in three people can purchase antibiotics without a prescription; and as antibiotic resistance spreads, even minor infections are turning fatal.
“The path forward is clear. Health resilience begins with systems that anticipate shocks—whether pandemics, drug resistance, or financial strain—and protect the most vulnerable,” said Omei Bongos, Public Health Lead at Gatefield. “It demands stronger domestic financing, data-driven governance, and innovation in community and at-home care.”
According to Shirley Ewang, Advocacy Lead at Gatefield, the summit will focus on redefining resilience across Africa’s health sectors.
“From food and funding to women’s health and medicines, the agenda recognizes that health systems must be built to endure,” she said.
Confirmed speakers include representatives from the World Bank, International Diabetes Federation, Pathfinder International, Policy Innovation Center, Society for Family Health, and the South African Medical Research Council.
Registration for the Gatefield Health Summit 2025 is open at https://tix.africa/discover/ghs2025
