African countries gather in Kigali to boost health workforce through innovation

African countries have come together to explore ways to support their health workforce through innovation, technology, and sustainable financing. The discussions are taking place in Kigali during the 2025 Annual Convening of the Africa Health Collaborative, running from October 20 to 24, where universities, policymakers, innovators, and funders are exchanging ideas and developing solutions to build stronger, more resilient health systems across the continent.

Panelists engage in a discussion ati during the 2025 Annual Convening of the Africa Health Collaborative, running from October 20 to 24. Courtesy

Jeanne Umuhire, Deputy Director of Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), told attendees that the discussions show how Rwanda is turning its ambitious plans into real results.

She said that transforming the health sector requires collaboration between the government, academia, innovators, and the private sector.

“In Rwanda, we pride ourselves on being action-driven. Take the 4x4 health workforce reform, for example, which aims to quadruple the number of health professionals by 2028 and meet the World Health Organisation’s target of 4.5 skilled workers per 1,000 people. Without practitioners, the health system cannot function,” Umuhire said.

She added that the government is working to strengthen the next generation of health professionals through expanded training programmes and clear career pathways.

“Our young people are our greatest resource, and we want to keep empowering them to shape the future.”

Umuhire commended African Leadership University (ALU) and its partners under the Africa Health Collaborative for supporting youth-led innovation and research.

“The government is committed to creating an environment where startups, health entrepreneurs, and social innovators can thrive,” she said.

Delegates at the 2025 Annual Convening of the Africa Health Collaborative, running from October 20 to 24.

She urged young innovators to align their work with the government health plans, particularly in digital health, where tools such as telemedicine and artificial intelligence are transforming service delivery.

She mentioned Rwanda’s homegrown innovation, Zipline’s drone delivery system, as a way technology is improving efficiency and expanding access to health services.

Umuhire added that with donor funding declining, the country is relying on local, sustainable solutions.

“We don’t want to focus on lost funding; we want to show how we have built stronger systems ourselves.”

Umuhire said Rwanda aims to become a hub for biomanufacturing and vaccine production, while continuing to modernize health infrastructure and expand community-based health insurance.

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“We are committed to building a skilled, empowered, and digitally connected health workforce that can transform the health systems in Rwanda, across Africa, and beyond,” she added.

In an interview with The New Times, Dr. Penina Lam, Senior Director of International Relations at the Africa Health Collaborative, said the collaborative is helping African countries address workforce gaps through training, research, and entrepreneurship.

Funded by the Mastercard Foundation, the collaborative brings together ten partners, including ALU, AIMS, and the University of Toronto, where its Secretariat is based.

“The expertise within our partner institutions is considerable, and while we have trained healthcare workers for years, collaboration now allows us to do even more. We focus on three main priorities; developing the health workforce, strengthening health systems, and promoting entrepreneurship,” Lam said.

She added that the collaborative plans to train 90,000 healthcare workers across Africa by 2030, ranging from doctors and community health workers to linked health professionals.

“It also supports the creation of 5,000 health ventures led by young innovators addressing challenges in digital health, supply chain management, and AI-driven tools. Young people are at the heart of this work, and their ideas are shaping the healthcare solutions of the future,” Lam added.

Officials pose for a group photo at the 2025 Annual Convening of the Africa Health Collaborative.

Dr. Lam said the Annual Convening of the Africa Health Collaborative offers participants a chance to build relationships, share knowledge, and develop practical solutions that can drive healthcare transformation across Africa.

On the sidelines, Dr. Carene Umugwaneza, Africa Health Collaborative Manager at ALU, said the Kigali convening aims to support Rwanda’s health workforce by bringing together collaboration, innovation, and education. She added that, like many African countries, Rwanda faces challenges in training and retaining skilled health professionals.

Umugwaneza said one of the main outcomes of the convening is the coordination of academic processes across partner institutions. She added that new courses and training programmes are being developed to meet the demands of modern medicine, especially with the increasing use of artificial intelligence and telemedicine.

Umugwaneza said the event will allow young founders present digital solutions to improve healthcare delivery and receive feedback from experts and potential funders to refine their models and secure local support.

Hosting the convening in Kigali, she said, shows Rwanda’s growing role as a regional hub for healthcare innovation and collaboration.