ECHAlliance is thrilled to announce the simultaneous launch of the Africa Digital Health Networks (ADHN) in Europe at the Digital Health & Wellness Summit (DHWS) in Barcelona, held within 4YFN – Mobile World Congress and the United States during our partner program at ViVE Los Angeles.
This ground-breaking initiative aims to be the epicentre of Africa’s Digital Health Communities of Practice, fostering communication, facilitating partnerships, and promoting collaboration in the development and adoption of digital health solutions across the continent.
Brian O’Connor, Chair at ECHAlliance, remarked, “Our Global Health Connector Partnership, combined with our Global Flagship Events Programme, allows us to present the exciting ADHN initiative to our extensive audience on two continents today.
I personally attended the African Launch of ADHN in Kigali, Rwanda, and the enthusiasm observed there will be mirrored globally as we continue our partnership.”
Jean Philbert Nsengimana, Co-Chair of ADHN, expressed his excitement about the simultaneous launch, calling it “an historic milestone in our Global Awareness Campaign, led by Brian and his team. Having access to the ECHAlliance global network makes it much easier to reach our target audience. I will be in Barcelona and look forward to the opportunity at DHWS.”
ADHN made its debut in October 2023, at the Africa HealthTech Summit in Kigali, Rwanda. With the support of its Global Engagement Partner, ADHN, aims to empower 100,000 frontline health workers by 2030, accelerate technology adoption, and promote digital public infrastructure.
With over 60 institutions and 20 individuals expressing their desire to become founding members, ADHN’s diverse membership includes technical communities of practice, national e-health agencies, health tech startups, investors, development partners, non-profit organisations, healthcare providers, academia, and research institutions.
The Key Objectives of ADHN Include:
Strengthening Digital Health Capacity: Aiming to empower 100,000 frontline health workers by 2030.
Accelerating Technology Adoption: Including mobile health apps, telemedicine, connected diagnostics, and electronic health records.
Promoting Digital Public Infrastructure: Advocating for open standards to advance interoperability for person-centred care and data-driven decision-making.
Creating Platforms for Knowledge Sharing: Convenings, training, and knowledge-sharing initiatives to strengthen communities of practice and members.
Advocating for Policies: Pushing for policies that accelerate digital health maturity in Member States.
Supporting Technology Adoption Initiatives: Identifying, supporting, and promoting initiatives that advance Africa’s health security and improve health outcomes.
As we embark on this transformative journey, it’s crucial to recognize that ADHN serves not just as an epicentre but as a driving force for a collective endeavour to shape the future of healthcare in Africa. Moving forward, we commit to keeping this initiative updated and evolving, ensuring it remains a dynamic platform for advancing digital health solutions across the continent.
