The third day of the 8th edition Galien Africa Forum was dedicated to the Women’s Forum, held under the theme “Women and Health Sovereignty in Africa.” The high-level session brought together leaders, researchers, and development partners to reflect on the critical role of women in building sustainable health sovereignty on the continent.
The Director General of the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), Dr Melchior Athanase J. C. Aïssi, participated as a distinguished panellist in the session on “Human Resources for Health in the Context of Health Sovereignty: The Place of Women in Health Sovereignty in Africa.”
The session was moderated by Dr Sayuri Pillay of the University of Pretoria, South Africa and Professor Mamadou Sarr of the Rose Dieng University France–Senegal. Other high-profile panellists included Mr Mabingue Ngom, former UNFPA Regional Director, Dr Fatou Mbaye Sylla, the Director of Health Facilities, Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene of Senegal, Professor Olufunmilayo I. Fawole of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria and Mrs Nandy Beugre Goue, the Executive Director, West African Federation of the Private Health Sector – FOASPS.
In his remarks, Dr Aïssi emphasised that the new Regional Community Health Policy, adopted in May 2025 by the ECOWAS Assembly of Ministers of Health, aims to strengthen the role of women in achieving health sovereignty across West Africa. The policy introduces an innovative approach whereby each family will be assigned a community health worker, required to conduct at least three household visits per week. It promotes an inclusive and harmonised framework designed to correct the disparities that existed under fragmented national policies, often shaped by differing technical and financial assistance.
Anchored in the long-standing “Health for All” vision of the 1978 Alma-Ata Declaration, the policy establishes common regional standards and principles for community-based health care across ECOWAS Member States. WAHO has supported countries in defining a minimum essential service package adapted to national realities.
The Director- General explained that the current phase is focused on sensitising and mapping households, prior to the implementation of the pilot phase in each country. Local communities play a key role in this, both in selecting community health workers and in gradually financing the system.
Under this policy, the remuneration of community health workers will be managed by local governments, with increasing community participation leading to full local ownership within ten years. This decentralised model is designed to ensure financial and institutional sustainability.
Dr AÏSSI a insisté sur l’importance du leadership féminin, précisant que les femmes, notamment celles disposant d’une expérience familiale, seront privilégiées pour animer la mise en œuvre de cette politique.
“This policy is based on the principles of human rights, ethics, equity and social justice. It reflects our belief that health sovereignty will only be achieved when communities and women in particular take full ownership of their health systems, supported by local governance and innovation”, Dr Melchior Aïssi said.
