Gatefield to hold summit on building health resilience in Africa

Gatefield is set to hold its annual health summit, bringing together global and regional leaders to define a new agenda for Africa’s health resilience.

In a statement, Gatefield said the summit would be held from October 22 to 23, 2025, at Nile University, Abuja.

The organisation said the summit comes at a time when health systems across the continent are under unprecedented strain, from rising chronic diseases and drug-resistant infections to underfunded women’s and mental health services.

“Sub-Saharan Africa stands at a defining moment for health resilience. Fewer than 8% of people across the region have health insurance, even as the burden of chronic diseases rises faster here than anywhere else in the world,” the statement reads.

“Nearly one in four African lives is cut short by non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

“Drug-resistant infections now kill more Africans than HIV/AIDS or malaria, signalling a new era of global health insecurity. If unchecked, antimicrobial resistance could claim 10 million lives annually by 2050, surpassing cancer as the world’s leading cause of death.

“Behind these numbers lies a deeper crisis of access, equity, and investment. Africa carries 25% of the world’s disease burden but receives only 3% of global health spending. Each year, 150 million Africans face catastrophic health expenses that push families into poverty, underscoring the fragility of financing systems.”

The organisation said women’s and mental health remain critically neglected, while over 116 million Africans live with mental health conditions.

Omei Bongos, public health lead at Gatefield, said health resilience begins with systems that anticipate shocks–whether pandemics, drug resistance, or financial strain–and protect the most vulnerable.

“It demands stronger domestic financing, data-driven governance, and innovation in community- and at-home care,” Bongos said.

On her part, Shirley Ewang, advocacy lead at Gatefield, said the health summit will convene policymakers, researchers, and private sector leaders to redefine resilience across Africa.

“From food and funding to women’s health and medicines, the agenda recognises the shared truth that health systems must be built to endure,” she said.