FP Event: Investing in African Health Security

What will it take to expand local manufacturing and strengthen health systems infrastructure across Africa?

The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare what stakeholders across Africa have long known: Severe shortages in lifesaving medical products result from relying on the Global North and Asia as the primary suppliers. The lack of local manufacturing capacity has been a driver of extreme global disparities in access to lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines, diagnostics, drugs, and devices. Over two years into the global pandemic, it has become increasingly clear that strengthening health security across Africa, and the world, will require long-term investments to fortify the manufacturing ecosystem.

Against the backdrop of the pandemic and on the occasion of the 77th Session of the U.N. General Assembly, Foreign Policy, in partnership with PATH, will explore the investments, partnerships, and models that can inform a strategy for fostering a sustainable African manufacturing industry and distribution networks across the continent. The event will include leaders from the public and private sectors, international organizations, and civil society who will pinpoint key challenges and illuminate how varying stakeholders can work together to address chronic inequities and strengthen regional health security in Africa. This event will be held in person in New York.

In partnership with

Speakers

H.E. Ambassador Cessouma Minata Samate

Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, African Union (AU)
H.E. Amb Minata Samaté Cessouma is a Burkina Faso diplomat, born on 14 July 1961. She was elected the new Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development o...
H.E._Amb_Minata_Samate_Cessouma
H.E._Amb_Minata_Samate_Cessouma

Dr. Mathume Joseph 'Joe' Phaahla

Minister of Health, Republic of South Africa
Dr Phaahla was appointed as Minister of Health on 5 August 2021. He served as Deputy Minister of Health of the Republic of South Africa from 30 May 2019 t...
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phaahla-health-l

Loyce Pace

Assistant Secretary for Office of Global Affairs (OGA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Ms. Pace is responsible for advancing the U.S. international health agenda through multilateral and bilateral forums. Reporting directly to the Secretary of Health & Human S...
Pace_Loyce_2022
Pace_Loyce_2022

Reta Jo Lewis

President and Chair of the Board of Directors, Export-Import Bank of the United States
On February 9, 2022, the U.S. Senate confirmed Reta Jo Lewis as EXIM’s President and Chair of the Board of Directors. Chair Lewis was sworn in by Vice President of the United ...
20220418-RJL-headshot_Reta Jo Lews
20220418-RJL-headshot_Reta Jo Lews

Nikolaj Gilbert

President and CEO, PATH
Nikolaj Gilbert is president and chief executive officer of PATH. He brings to his roles more than 20 years of international experience as a leader, strategist, and director of ...
Gilbert_Nikolaj_2022 (1)
Gilbert_Nikolaj_2022 (1)

Rajinder Suri

CEO, DCVMN
Rajinder Suri is CEO-DCVMN.  He is responsible for leadership, governance, strategic orientation and operational excellence of DCVMN Secretariat. To meet un-precedented ...
Rajinder Kumar Suri - picture
Rajinder Kumar Suri - picture

Reena Ninan

Founder, Good Trouble Productions
Reena is a television journalist who has worked as a White House correspondent, foreign reporter, and news anchor for ABC, CBS, and Fox News. She has reported around the world f...
Ninan_Reena_2021
Ninan_Reena_2021