Nairobi on Monday hosted a major continental summit where top medical scientists, doctors, and policymakers from across Africa gathered to call on governments to leverage emerging technologies to improve healthcare.

Organized by the African Union Development Agency and the New Partnership for African Development (AUDA-NEPAD), the meeting convened participants from all economic regions to discuss integrating new technologies into healthcare systems to address the continent’s unique challenges.

The two-day event emphasised the role of regional economic communities in guiding the use of emerging technologies and setting research priorities within African Union member states.

Participants included prominent organisations like the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP), and representatives from major regional blocs such as the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), East African Community (EAC), Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), among others.

“This meeting is essential as it comes at a time when Africa faces significant healthcare challenges,” said Dr. Julius Simon Otim, Senior Health Officer at the East African Community Secretariat.

He pointed out that technology plays a critical role in reaching underserved communities, especially in remote areas.

“The use of technology has enabled us to provide healthcare access to the most vulnerable,” he remarked, citing Rwanda’s innovative use of drones to deliver medicines to rural areas. “Other nations can look to Rwanda’s example in using drones to overcome barriers to healthcare access,” Otim added.

Rwanda’s success in deploying drones to deliver medical supplies was a highlight of the discussions.

Through a partnership with Silicon Valley’s Zipline International, Rwanda operates the first nationwide drone delivery system to transport medicines and blood supplies to hospitals and clinics across the country, demonstrating the effectiveness of technology in addressing logistical challenges in healthcare.

Hylde Mbuta Lukovi Seke, AUDA-NEPAD’s Programme Officer for Science, Technology, and Innovation, underscored the value of collaboration.

“This summit is vital as it allows African countries to create synergies, leveraging new technologies to strengthen healthcare systems across the continent,” she stated.

Lukovi Seke stressed that the goal was to find innovation-driven solutions to some of Africa’s most pressing healthcare issues.

Dr. William Wasswa, Lecturer and Head of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering at Mbarara University of Science and Technology, presented examples from various African countries on how digital tools like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) are transforming healthcare.

Dr. Kazeem Abubakar, Assistant Director of Research at Nigeria’s National Center for Technology Management, led discussions on the application of drones and blockchain technology in healthcare delivery, illustrating how these advancements can enhance transparency and access to care.

AFIDEP’s Executive Director called for high-level dialogue on creating the right political and policy environment for advancing healthcare technologies.

The conference’s discussions underscore the critical role of technology in overcoming barriers to healthcare access and demonstrate a united African approach to embracing innovation for improved health outcomes.