To survive, Africa needs to find solutions to its unique health challenges

Human lungs with tuberculosis illustration. [Getty Images]

A recent Amref Health Africa conference brought to light the harsh realities African countries face regarding healthcare. The conference brought together experts from across the continent to discuss these challenges, the enormous opportunities, share their experiences and insights on improving African health outcomes, and explore potential solutions. One of the key themes that emerged from the conference was the need for Africa to take ownership of its health system by focusing on locally sustainable solutions, primary healthcare, technology for equity and optimal health service delivery models.

As I sat through the conference listening to speakers from all over Africa share their experiences, some inspiring and others heartbreaking, my mind kept drifting back. I was thinking of the pregnant woman I had recently scanned in Lokitaung in Turkana County. The sheer joy on her face as she heard her baby's heartbeat and saw the movements of the limbs during her first-ever ultrasound scan, despite being in her third pregnancy, was truly remarkable. Is this a true definition of reaching the last mile with quality health services? I kept on wondering just how such discussions could enable thousands more of such women access services in the hard to reach areas.