The Africa Centre for Inclusive Health Management at Stellenbosch University was awarded corporate membership of the AIPHP at the conference and its director, Dr Munya Saruchera, was nominated and inducted as a fellow of the African Institute of Public Health (FAIPH) alongside other 24 experts from across Africa. The membership is an acknowledgement of the centre’s contribution towards public health management training, which is a cornerstone of transformative change across health systems.

Sharing knowledge and initiating collaborations for a healthier continent

Africa is no stranger to dealing with severe health challenges. Current ones include infectious diseases, rising non-communicable diseases (NCDs), healthcare worker shortages and inadequate financing for health systems. Yet there is evidence of innovation, best practices and progress in the sector.

The AIPHP conference brought together health professionals, researchers, policymakers, local and international NGO representatives and other key stakeholders to discuss the way forward for African health systems in light of both the success stories and the obstacles. By sharing knowledge and exploring collaboration opportunities across countries, the groundwork for building health system capacity was laid. Collaborating partners included the Institute for Health Professionals Development Sierra Leone, the Sefako Makgatho University (formerly Medunsa), Unisa, the Tshwane University of Technology and Best Health Solution.

Building leadership and management capacity is key

Creating more resilient health systems that ensure equitable access, efficient delivery and social justice requires health leaders and managers with applicable skills. This is where the role of the Africa Centre, through its innovative academic programmes, is crucial – as acknowledged by the AIPHP corporate membership awarded to the centre at the conference.

According to centre director Dr Munya Saruchera, the membership comes at a particularly meaningful time in the Africa Centre’s history and evolution. “This year marks 25 years of [the centre’s] existence. To date, we have had more than 5 000 postgraduate diploma graduates from 29 African countries and 39 non-African countries and over 600 master’s graduates.” To add to the gravitas of the recognition, the Africa Centre’s first doctoral students will graduate in 2026.

This level of growth required extensive collaboration, which is one of the pillars of the Africa Centre’s work, evidenced by its strategic local and international partnerships. “We want to extend a big thank you to our staff (past and present), past directors, students and alumni, the governing board, the Economic and Management Sciences Faculty [where the Africa Centre is located], the broader Stellenbosch University community and all our partners and service providers who have contributed to the centre’s growth and impact,” Saruchera said.

Stronger African health systems incorporate indigenous health knowledge

In addition to the Africa Centre’s accolade, Saruchera had the privilege of being inducted as an AIPHP fellow. He also did a presentation on human resources for health as imperative to UHC, drawing from the Africa Centre’s internationally acclaimed academic programmes and other work in health management skills training.

His presentation put special emphasis on the important role of indigenous health services in an African context. “The World Health Organization indicates that 80% of people in Africa depend on indigenous health services. This underscores the importance of developing African indigenous health knowledge systems, establishing relevant health pluralism governance frameworks and advancing training and qualifications for indigenous health practitioners.”

In essence, African knowledge systems are critical to creating health management solutions suited to the continent’s needs. With the work of the Africa Centre grounded in African philosophy, pedagogy and values, the centre will remain a strategic role player in the advancement of UHC in Africa.