Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has traveled to Accra, Ghana, for an Extraordinary African Union summit focused on strengthening public health responses across the continent, according to a press statement from Director of Presidential Communications Bakari Machumu.
Tanzanian President Samia Attends AU Health Summit in Ghana
The working visit marks President Samia’s first trip to another African country in nearly ten months, following a controversial election term in Tanzania that was followed by violence. The Accra summit brings together African Union heads of state and government under the theme “Advancing Equity, Justice and Universal Health Coverage,” as outlined by the presidential communications office. Leaders are gathering to address critical continental health challenges, including the elimination of HIV/Aids and tuberculosis, alongside broader efforts to expand access to quality healthcare.
Maternal Health Initiatives and Continental Priorities
During the gathering, President Samia is taking on a prominent role in her capacity as the African Union Champion for Maternal and Child Health. According to the official statement, she is scheduled to host a side event dedicated to a “Call to Action on Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Survival.” The broader summit agenda includes formal deliberations on strategies to curb preventable maternal and child deaths, eradicate HIV and tuberculosis, and enhance Africa’s institutional preparedness for emerging public health emergencies.
Broader Diplomatic Travel and Regional Health Crises
This trip represents President Samia’s second official visit to Accra, following an initial visit in May 2022. Her international travel outside of Africa this year has been limited to a single three-day state visit to Moscow in June. The current African Union summit takes place as health authorities confront an Ebola outbreak that originated in the Democratic Republic of Congo in May, prompting leaders to review emergency response protocols.
Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director-General of the Africa CDC, emphasized the urgency of the meeting. According to Dr. Kaseya, the extraordinary summit provides a vital opportunity for Africa “to move beyond ambition and deliver the political decisions that will strengthen continental health systems,” adding that leaders must remember “that behind every statistic is a person, a family and a community.”
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