01/06/2026
Africa’s Health Future Depends on Strong Institutions, Dr. Joekai Tells High-Level Meeting in Côte d’Ivoire
By: Julius Konton
African policymakers, health experts, civil service leaders, and governance professionals convened in Abidjan this week for the 3rd High-Level Meeting of the Health and Public Service Network of Africa (HaPSNA), a strategic continental gathering aimed at strengthening public institutions and expanding community-based healthcare systems across the continent.
The high-level meeting, chaired by Dr. Josiah F. Joekai Jr., Director-General of Liberia’s Civil Service Agency (CSA) in his capacity as Chairman of HaPSNA, opened with renewed calls for stronger partnerships, institutional reforms, and coordinated strategies to improve health systems and public administration in Africa.
The two-day summit brings together senior delegates from nine African countries, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Senegal, Ghana, the Central African Republic, Nigeria, and Benin to deliberate on reforms designed to strengthen governance systems, professionalize public institutions, and integrate health workers into sustainable civil service frameworks.
The meeting comes at a critical moment for Africa’s health and governance landscape. According to estimates from the , Africa bears nearly 24 percent of the global disease burden but has only about 3 percent of the world’s health workforce, underscoring longstanding disparities in healthcare access and institutional capacity.
Weak administrative systems, workforce shortages, and inadequate health financing continue to challenge many countries despite growing investments in reforms.
In his keynote remarks, Dr. Joekai described Africa as standing at a defining crossroads in its development trajectory, emphasizing that the continent’s future prosperity depends heavily on building competent institutions and investing in human capital.
“Africa possesses enormous promise, characterized by a youthful population, abundant resources, and increasing opportunities for innovation and economic transformation,” Dr. Joekai said.
“Yet realizing this potential requires strong institutions, competent public servants, motivated health professionals, and effective governance systems capable of delivering meaningful results for our citizens.”
The Liberian civil service chief stressed that no nation can overcome modern governance and health challenges in isolation, arguing that cross-border partnerships, technical cooperation, and shared learning mechanisms remain central to Africa’s long-term transformation.
He noted that the Abidjan meeting offers member states an opportunity not only to celebrate progress but also to critically assess gaps in implementation, strengthen partnerships, and chart a sustainable roadmap for institutional resilience.
“Over the next several days, we will engage in substantive discussions on health workforce development, public sector modernization, leadership and governance, digital innovation, institutional strengthening, and sustainable strategies for improving service delivery outcomes across Africa,” he stated.
HaPSNA’s Growing Role in Africa’s Development Agenda
Established as a collaborative platform for advancing public service reform and health systems strengthening, the Health and Public Service Network of Africa (HaPSNA) has increasingly positioned itself as a policy-driven mechanism for promoting dialogue, technical exchange, and collective problem-solving among African governments.
The Network focuses particularly on improving community health programs, which many experts argue remain the backbone of healthcare delivery in low- and middle-income countries.
Across Africa, community health workers frequently serve as the first point of care in rural and underserved communities, helping reduce maternal mortality, prevent infectious diseases, improve vaccination rates, and expand primary healthcare coverage.
Public health experts say strengthening civil service integration for healthcare workers could significantly improve workforce retention, accountability, remuneration systems, and long-term institutional sustainability.
Reaffirming his commitment as Chairman of HaPSNA, Dr. Joekai pledged continued support for building professional networks and strengthening public institutions capable of delivering measurable outcomes for African citizens.
“We remain dedicated to building a strong network of professionals, institutions, and governments working collectively to improve the lives of the people we serve,” he emphasized.
Dr. Joekai also announced that the 4th Sitting of HaPSNA will be held during the first week of March 2027, where member states are expected to evaluate implementation progress on commitments adopted in Abidjan and assess reforms undertaken at the national level.
Health Workforce Challenges Remain a Continental Concern
Also speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr. Haileyesus Getahun, Chief Executive Officer of the Health Development Partnership for Africa and the Caribbean (HeDPAC), praised Côte d’Ivoire for hosting the summit and urged African governments to leverage the HaPSNA platform to deepen partnerships supporting community health workforce programs.
Community health workers, he noted, remain indispensable to achieving universal healthcare goals but continue to face structural barriers in many countries.
“Community health workers are the foundation of primary healthcare,” Dr. Getahun stated.
“Yet, in many countries, their remuneration and integration into the civil service system are often delayed.”
His comments reflect wider concerns raised by international development agencies regarding persistent shortages of trained health professionals across the continent.
Studies indicate that several African countries continue to struggle with inadequate doctor-to-population ratios, limited healthcare financing, and migration of skilled professionals to higher-income countries.
Côte d’Ivoire Reaffirms Commitment to Institutional Modernization
Officially opening the conference, Madame Anne Désirée Ouloto-Lamizana, Minister of State and Minister of Public Service and Modernization of the Administration of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, thanked Dr. Joekai and HaPSNA for selecting Abidjan as host city and reaffirmed her government’s commitment to public service modernization and health sector reforms.
She emphasized that strong governance systems and effective public institutions remain essential pillars for sustainable national development and socioeconomic transformation across Africa.
Observers say the outcome of the summit could carry broader implications for regional cooperation, particularly as African governments seek to build more resilient institutions following the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed vulnerabilities in public health systems and emergency response mechanisms across many developing economies.
The meeting is expected to conclude with the adoption and signing of a joint communiqué outlining key resolutions, policy commitments, and implementation strategies designed to strengthen healthcare systems, modernize public institutions, and improve service delivery across participating member states.
For many delegates, the Abidjan summit represents more than a technical meeting, it signals a growing continental recognition that effective governance and stronger health systems are inseparable pillars of Africa’s development future.
