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The 27th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Health Ministers of ECOWAS reached its climax on Friday, April 24, with Assembly Chairman Dr Austin Demby officially welcoming his colleagues and commending Sierra Leone for successfully hosting one of Africa’s most prestigious health leadership conferences.
The five-day high-level meeting, organised by the West African Health Organisation in collaboration with Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health, brought together over 500 delegates, including ministers, health experts, development partners, and observers. Discussions focused on addressing some of the continent’s most pressing healthcare challenges.
Declaring the session open, Sierra Leone’s Chief Minister, David Moinina Sengeh, stressed the need for tangible outcomes, noting that citizens across Africa expect results rather than explanations.
“Our governments must deliver on promises made to our people, especially in rural communities where the true test of our systems lies,” he said.
Dr Sengeh highlighted Sierra Leone’s recent success in vaccinating 1.1 million girls against HPV within ten days, describing it as a clear demonstration of how coordinated, data-driven systems can save lives. He added that similar strategies could be applied in the fight against malaria.
This year’s assembly placed renewed urgency on malaria eradication, adopting the theme: “Advancing Malaria Elimination through an Integrated Regional Approach.”
Speaking on the significance of hosting the summit, Minister of Health and Assembly Chairman, Austin Demby, expressed pride in Sierra Leone’s role.
“It is an incredible honour to serve as Chairperson of this Assembly; a privilege that flows directly from the leadership of His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio, who champions health as a cornerstone of Sierra Leone’s development agenda,” he said.
As the session concludes, Health Ministers are expected to engage in final high-level technical discussions to review progress made during the week, identify existing gaps, and propose actionable strategies.
Key focus areas include strengthening disease surveillance, improving service delivery, enhancing cross-border healthcare coordination, and increasing financing for health systems.
The Assembly is also set to adopt recommendations aimed at deepening regional collaboration, improving data utilisation, and expanding equitable access to malaria prevention and treatment services across West Africa.
