Director-General, United Nations Office at Nairobi
World Health Summit Regional Meeting 2026 – Closing Plenary
29 April 2026 | UNON, Nairobi, Kenya
His Excellency Professor Kithure Kindiki, Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya;
Honorable Aden Duale, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Health, Kenya;
Honorable Reem Alabali Radovan, Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany;
Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director-General, Africa Centre for Disease Control (CDC);
Professor Mohamed Janabi, Regional Director, WHO Africa Regional Office (AFRO);
Professor Axel R. Pries, President, World Health Summit;
Dr. Sulaiman Shahabuddin, President & Vice Chancellor, Aga Khan University (AKU);
Professor Lukoye Atwoli, Dean, Medical College East Africa Aga Khan University and International President World Health Summit Regional Meeting 2026;
Excellencies, Distinguished Ministers, colleagues, and partners,
On behalf of the United Nations Office at Nairobi, allow me to begin by expressing appreciations.
I wish to thank the World Health Summit, the Aga Khan University, the World Health Organization, Africa CDC, and all partners for convening this important Regional Meeting. I also extend my gratitude to all participants who travelled to Nairobi and contributed their expertise, perspectives and commitment over the past three days.
Hosting this meeting at UNON is not incidental. As the only United Nations headquarters in the Global South, UNON serves as a platform for global dialogue grounded in regional priorities. This week has demonstrated the importance of that role, bringing together leaders from across Africa and beyond to engage on the future of health systems from an African perspective.
I have been closely briefed on the deliberations and key outcomes. What stands out is the clarity of the messages emerging from this meeting.
Across the discussions, a number of consistent themes have been reinforced.
First, that the challenges facing Africa’s health systems are well understood. The central issue is no longer diagnosis, but implementation, how to translate evidence and policy commitments into sustained, system-wide change.
Second, that stronger health systems will require a shift in design and governance. There is increasing recognition of the need to move towards models that are more community-centered, prevention-oriented, and responsive to population needs.
Third, that financing, workforce investment, and institutional capacity remain critical constraints, but also areas where practical and actionable solutions are available.
The emphasis placed on primary health care and community health systems is particularly important. These are foundational elements of resilient systems and essential to achieving equitable health outcomes.
I also wish to highlight the importance of the discussions on digital health, artificial intelligence, and data governance.
As countries accelerate the adoption of digital technologies, the questions of ownership, regulation, and equity become central. The principle that Africa should not only adopt digital solutions but actively shape, govern, and benefit from them is both timely and necessary.
This aligns with broader United Nations priorities on inclusive and responsible digital transformation.
Equally important is the recognition of the linkages between health, climate and the built environment.
With both UNEP and UN-Habitat headquartered here in Nairobi, UNON is uniquely positioned to support more integrated approaches that address the environmental and social determinants of health. Strengthening these linkages will be critical as countries respond to the growing impacts of climate change and urbanization.
At the conclusion of this meeting, I believe the adoption of a Nairobi Communiqué will represent an important step. This seeks to move beyond broad statements and articulate more concrete priorities across financing, governance, workforce development, digital health, and local production.
The key question now is implementation.
The value of this meeting will ultimately be measured not by what has been discussed, but by what is carried forward, through policies, investments, and institutional reforms that improve health outcomes across the continent.
In this regard, allow me to briefly outline how UNON can contribute.
First, UNON will continue to provide a platform for dialogue and engagement, including opportunities to review progress on commitments emerging from this meeting.
Second, we will work to strengthen coordination within the UN system particularly with UNEP and UN-Habitat, on areas where health intersects with climate, environment, and urban development.
Third, we will support efforts to ensure that the outcomes of this meeting are reflected in broader UN discussions and processes, helping to elevate Africa’s priorities within global platforms.
Excellencies,
This meeting has reaffirmed that Africa’s health future will be shaped by decisions taken on the continent, by its institutions, and by its leadership.
The United Nations, and UNON in particular, has a responsibility to support that process -by convening, by connecting, and by helping translate regional priorities into global action.
We are honoured that this dialogue has taken place here in Nairobi.
And we remain committed to supporting the work ahead.
Thank you.