By Kemo Cham
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the Ethiopian government has officially launched the 2026 edition of the Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA).
The conference is scheduled to take place in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa from 23 to 27 November 2026.
CPHIA is Africa’s primary public health gathering, which brings together governments, scientists, policymakers, health professionals and partners to advance practical solutions for Africa’s health transformation and help shape the future of public health on the continent.
The annual event provides an important opportunity for African stakeholders to engage in open dialogue on critical health issues, share new scientific breakthroughs and innovations, and identify solutions with the potential to catalyse positive change.
Hadera Abera, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, presided over the launch of the conference alongside Raj Tajudeen, Acting Deputy Director General of Africa CDC.
“Today’s launch symbolises our determination to build a healthier and more resilient Africa, fully aligned with the aspirations of the African Union’s Agenda 2063,” Mr Abera said at the event held at the offices of the Africa CDC in Addis Ababa.
He added: “CPHIA 2026 is necessary. It will help advance Africa from dependency to self-reliance, from vulnerability to resilience, and from fragmentation to coordinated continental action.”
The theme for this year’s event is “Africa’s Health Security and Sovereignty: Transformation from health dependency and vulnerability to ownership and resilience.” The conference is designed to provide a strategic continental platform to advance Africa-led solutions, strengthen resilient health systems, and accelerate implementation of the Africa Health Security and Sovereignty agenda.
The theme aligns with the Africa Health Security and Sovereignty (AHSS) agenda, which was recently adopted by the 39th ordinary session of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State. It builds on the CPHIA 2025 continental commitments outlined in the Durban Promise, which calls for mobilising Africa’s wealth and innovation for health sovereignty, strengthening governance and accountability, reinvesting in primary health care and community systems, and fostering regional solidarity and market efficiency, among other priorities, Africa CDC said in a news release.
“This platform provides an opportunity to influence evidence-based policy and shape strategies that will define the health security of Africa’s 55 AU Member States,” said Dr Raj Tajudeen, who is the Acting Deputy Director General of Africa CDC.
The inaugural edition of CPHIA was held convened in December 2021 and it attracted 2,500 participants. Dr Tajudeen said at the launching of the 2026 edition that they are targeting 30,000 participants this year.
Africa CDC is the autonomous public health agency of the African Union, tasked with supporting member states in strengthening health systems. It also helps to improve disease surveillance, emergency response, and disease control.
The continental public health agency has convened four previous editions of CPHIA, each strengthening its position as its leading forum for public health dialogue, policy alignment and scientific exchange. It says that hosting CPHIA 2026 in Addis Ababa reinforces Ethiopia’s position as a major diplomatic hub, home to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the African Union and its agencies, including Africa CDC, among other global institutions.
“We are proud to partner with Africa CDC to convene this significant gathering,” said Hadera.
And Dr Tajudeen added: “We will continue working closely with Africa CDC to ensure the successful hosting of CPHIA 2026 in Addis Ababa.”
