“ROADMAP TO EQUITABLE SURGICAL HEALTHCARE FOR AFRICA”
PASHeF II Has Concluded with a Clear Roadmap to Deliver Equitable Surgical Healthcare in Africa
Kigali, Rwanda – The Pan-African Surgical Healthcare Forum (PASHeF) concluded a successful two-day conference at the Marriott Hotel in Kigali, from September 16-17, 2024, under the theme “Roadmap to Equitable Surgical Healthcare for Africa.” This landmark event, hosted by the Rwandan Ministry of Health and the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE), brought together key stakeholders across the continent.
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The forum was proudly supported by Smile Train, Mercy Ships, and Ethiopian Airlines, with His Excellency Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, Honorable Minister of Health of Rwanda, leading as the forum's champion.
Now in its second year, following the inaugural PASHeF forum in 2023, this year's gathering attracted delegates from 40 African countries, including Ministers of Health, State Ministers of Health, and their representatives.
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A key focus of the 2024 forum was reviewing the progress made in surgical care across the continent, learning from successful case studies, and advancing the operationalization of the PASHeF 2023 Consensus Statement, which aims to guide ministries of health in their efforts to enhance surgical services. The team also focused on steps to develop an actionable implementation roadmap for surgical healthcare across Africa.
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​​A significant milestone from this year's discussions was the agreement on governance structures for PASHeF.
Member states agreed to establish PASHeF as an intergovernmental body with a comprehensive governance framework to drive the forum's ambitious 50-point agenda for surgical healthcare reform.
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PASHeF will now be housed under a continental governance body, as directed by its member states, and its leadership will comprise a 10-member Board of Governors with regional representation, A 10-member Executive Committee, and A Secretariat based in Rwanda, supported by technical subcommittees focused on implementing specific initiatives. Ethiopia has been selected as the inaugural board chair of PASHeF.​
PASHeF envisions improving surgical healthcare across Africa by uniting policymakers, clinicians, researchers, partners and advocates. The forum addresses key issues such as political commitment, health service delivery, and the development of national surgical policies to ensure every African has access to the surgical care they deserve.