The WHS Academic Alliance at the WHS Regional Meeting 2026 in Nairobi
WHS Academic Alliance Spring Assembly 2026
Alongside the WHS Regional Meeting in Nairobi, the WHS Academic Alliance convened for its 2026 Spring Assembly. Heads of Delegation, focal points, and partners came together to review ongoing activities and define priorities for the year ahead. Key areas of exchange included updates from working groups, contributions to the World Health Summit 2026 program, current publication activities, and the continued development of the Alliance’s strategy.
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Sessions co-hosted by members of the WHS Academic Alliance
Members of the WHS Academic Alliance contributed to the program through a series of hosted and co-hosted sessions. From health system strengthening and climate-resilient infrastructure to local vaccine production and community health workers, the sessions reflected the Alliance's commitment to fostering international collaboration and supporting science-based health policy and practice.
Monday, 27 April
Beyond Borders: Strengthening Global Health Security within the East African Community through Surveillance and Laboratory Diagnostics
Host/Co-host: WHO/GIZ/EAC
Climate-resilient and green health infrastructure: innovation, financing models, air pollution, wast management and sustainable cities.
Chair: Dr.Sokhnia Thiam
Host/ Co-Host: AKU/APHRC/LSHTM
Advancing capacity building agendas for local vaccine production: A cooperation between RCCNs and Academia
Chair: Professor Beate Kampmann
Host/Co-Host: Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin GIZ/ CSIR/ EVMA/ IPM/ IPD
Integrated Planetary Health Solutions to Safeguard Health.
Chair: Prof. Peninah Murage, LSHTM
Host/Co-host: AKU/LSHTM
Speakers: Joseph Mucumbits, University of Rwanda; Borna Nyaoke-Anoke, DNDi Eastern Africa; Anderson Kehbila, Smart Energy Solutions for Africa; Faraja Chiwanga, Muhimbili Hospital
Tuesday, 28 April
Integrating Oral Health into Kenya's Primary Healthcare System: Policy, Practice and People's Voice
Chair: Prof Livia Ottolenghi, WHS Academic Alliance
Host/ Co-Hosts: AKU/ Seoul National University/ KOICA/ WHS Academic Alliance Working Group on "Oral Health and General Health"
Speakers: Mary Mwakughu, Kilifi County Hospital; Caroline Kibosia, Moi University; Hyewon Lee, Seoul National University; Penny Muange, MoH Kenya; Morenike O. Folayan Ukpong, African Oral Health Network
Health Data Spaces - A Bridge for Innovation
Host/ Co-Host: GIZ/ Charité
Wednesday, 29 April
Three (3) million Community Health Workers - how to empower them for effective and equitable UHC?
Chair: Prof. Stefan Swartling Peterson, Karolinska Institute
Host/Co-Host: AKU/ Karolinska Institute/ UNFPA
Speakers: Jackline Kiarie, Amref Health Africa; Joost van Engen, Healthy Enterpreneurs; Landry Dongmo Tsague, Africa CDC; Richard Kabanda, Commissioner MOH Uganda; Ayman Abdelmohsen, UNFPA; Fouzia Shafique, UNICEF
Learn More
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WHS Regional Meetings
Each year, the World Health Summit in Berlin is complimented by a Regional Meeting in a different part of the world, where local and regional topics come to the forefront. Each meeting is hosted by the WHS Academic Alliance member holding the World Health Summit International Presidency, which rotates every year.
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WHS Academic Alliance
The WHS Academic Alliance (formerly M8 Alliance) is the scientific network of the World Health Summit, bringing together 30 leading academic institutions from all continents. It fosters international collaboration, connects the scientific community to inform global health agendas, and supports evidence-based health policy and practice.