The Impact Africa Summit 2024, organised by Xcene Research, will convene in Lagos from 19 to 21 November, drawing over 500 key stakeholders from the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors to drive Africa’s participation in global clinical trials. Themed “Expanding the Pharmaceutical Value Chain through Inclusion of Sub-Saharan Africa in Global Clinical Trials,” the summit aims to build Africa’s capabilities as a clinical research hub, advancing healthcare innovation and economic growth across the continent.
In anticipation of the summit, Xcene Research has held a press conference at the Marriott Hotel, GRA Ikeja, highlighting the forthcoming summit’s role in positioning Sub-Saharan Africa as a pivotal player in global clinical trials.
According to the organisers, the summit is expected to convene over 500 stakeholders from the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors, as it seeks to establish Africa’s capabilities as a clinical research hub, fostering innovation and economic growth across the continent.
In her opening address, Mrs Adebukunola Telufusi, executive director of Xcene Research and the summit’s convener, emphasised the vast potential Africa holds for clinical trials due to its unique population and healthcare landscape. “With strategic investments in training, infrastructure, and regulatory harmonisation, African nations can conduct world-class clinical trials,” Telufusi noted.
Telufusi, who was represented by Adebusola Balogun, director of communications, Xcene Research, underscoring the opportunity for Africa to meet global standards and contribute significantly to healthcare solutions.
According to Dr Faramola Oguntoya, project manager at Xcene Research, the event serves as a platform for collaboration and advancing healthcare in Africa. “This summit is a pivotal step towards a healthier, more inclusive future for all, as it fosters partnerships and shared solutions,” Oguntoya remarked.
“The summit will feature workshops and discussions covering diverse topics including hematology, nephrology, patient advocacy, and regulatory frameworks, with sessions designed to bridge health equity gaps and promote sustainable healthcare industrialisation”.
The organisers have described the event as a transformative opportunity to empower Africa’s healthcare sector through an inclusive and collaborative approach to medical research. The summit’s agenda has attracted widespread attention, with stakeholders anticipating meaningful strategies for Africa’s advancement in global health research and clinical trials.
While responding to questions on the challenges facing sickle cell research in Africa, partners of Xcene Research, including Timi Edwin, executive director and founder of CrimsonBow Sickle Cell Initiative, said the lack of funding as a major barrier, saying sickle cell itself is an expensive condition to manage, and without infrastructure investment, research is hardly prioritised.
She however applauded Xcene Research for creating a space to network and overcome bottlenecks, adding that corruption also remains a significant challenge. “No sensible organisation would budget bribery. I hope events like this continue to break down these barriers and push research to the forefront,” Edwin stated.
In her contribution, Toyin Adesola, executive director and founder of Sickle Cell Advocacy and Management Initiative (SAMI), also weighed in on the cultural and structural challenges hampering research participation. “Cultural superstitions and fear around medical procedures make it difficult to collect accurate data on sickle cell prevalence. People hide due to stigma, making it challenging to involve patients in clinical research,” Adesola noted.
She stressed the need for policy reforms that classify sickle cell as a disability, helping to reduce stigma and improve quality of life for affected individuals.
According to the organiser, the Impact Africa Summit 2024 is expected to have participants from across the continent and beyond.
As anticipation builds for the Impact Africa Summit 2024, stakeholders see the event as a crucial moment for Africa’s advancement in global health research and clinical trials.
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