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Nairobi, Kenya

WHS Regional Meeting 2026, April 27–29 – Nairobi, Kenya

Reimagining Africa’s Health Systems: Innovation, Integration, and Interdependence

The WHS Regional Meeting 2026, hosted by Aga Khan University, took place from April 27–29 at the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON). Leaders, innovators, and changemakers gathered to explore solutions that strengthen Africa's health systems and advance global health progress.

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3,000+
Participants
80+
Countries
400+
Speakers
16
Health Ministers
80+
Sessions

WHS Regional Meeting 2026 Wraps Up in Nairobi

This unique gathering at the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) brought together leaders, innovators and changemakers from across the globe to advance practical solutions for stronger health systems in Africa. A key outcome was the strong emphasis on health sovereignty — grounded in greater ownership, mutual accountability, and global partnerships on equal footing.

Portrait of Lukoye Atwoli
"For too long, Africa has been the subject of global health discussions held elsewhere, by others. Today, with delegates from more than 50 countries gathered on African soil, we are asserting something fundamental: that African institutions, African researchers, and African policymakers are not consumers of global health policy, we are its co-authors. This Summit will move us from the language of intention to the architecture of implementation.”
Lukoye Atwoli
Professor and Dean, Medical College East Africa, The Aga Khan University, Kenya & WHS Regional Meeting 2026 President
Portrait of Mohamed Yakub Janabi
“This Summit marks a historic first and offers the kind of collaboration required to meet the challenges of the moment. The themes being discussed are deeply interconnected and will result in a blueprint for a new Africa that reflects a shift from addressing individual challenges to building a coherent health ecosystem.”
Mohamed Yakub Janabi
Regional Director for Africa World Health Organization (WHO)
Portrait of Jean Kaseya
“Africa’s health security and sovereignty depend on our ability to finance and build resilient systems at scale. The World Health Summit Regional Meeting in Nairobi provides a critical platform to move from dialogue to action, mobilizing investment, strengthening partnerships, and advancing African-led solutions that reduce dependency and expand access to quality health care.”
Jean Kaseya
Director-General, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)
Portrait of Axel R. Pries
“The World Health Summit Regional Meeting in Nairobi reflects the growing importance of Africa in shaping the global health agenda. Our role is to convene leaders from across sectors and regions, and the goal is clear: to translate dialogue into practical action that strengthens health systems regionally worldwide."
Axel R. Pries
President, World Health Summit

Key Themes

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  • Pandemic Preparedness and Health Security in Africa

  • Climate Change, Environment, and Health Systems Resilience

  • Digital Health, AI, and Technological Innovation

  • Health Workforce, Financing, and System Building

  • Gender Equity, Youth Leadership, and Social Accountability

  • Mental Health, Psychosocial Support, and Well-being

  • Primary Healthcare, UHC, and Social Determinants of Health

  • Women, Adolescents, Child Health and Nutrition

President of WHS Regional Meeting 2026

The International Presidency of the World Health Summit rotates annually among members of the WHS Academic Alliance. During the WHS Opening Night 2025, Prof. Balvir Singh Tomar, Founder and Chancellor of NIMS University and International President of the WHS Regional Meeting 2025, officially handed over the presidency of the WHS Regional Meetings to the incoming WHS International President, Prof. Lukoye Atwoli, Dean of the Medical College, East Africa, at Aga Khan University.

As President of the WHS Regional Meeting 2026, Professor Atwoli brings decades of expertise in public health and medical education to lead high-level discussions on strengthening Africa’s health systems.

Hosting Institution

In 2026, the WHS Regional Meeting will be hosted by WHS Academic Alliance member The Aga Khan University East Africa. Founded in 1983 as Pakistan’s first private university and from 2000 the University expa​​nded​ to Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Afghanistan, and the United Kingdom. The mission of the Aga Khan University is to improve the quality of life in the developing world and beyond through world-class teaching, research and health-care delivery.