President John Dramani Mahama has called for urgent international collaboration to bridge global health inequalities, emphasizing that a healthy Africa is an asset, not a threat, to global development.
Speaking at the One Health Summit in Lyon on April 7, 2026, where he co-chaired the High-Level segment, President Mahama highlighted the critical gap in resources for countries most vulnerable to health crises.
“Regrettably, as I speak with you today, countries that are most at risk have the least resources to cope. This must change,” he said, urging global partners to ensure equitable access to financing, technology, and innovation.
President Mahama stressed that strengthening Africa’s health systems would yield benefits far beyond the continent, calling on nations to invest in research, knowledge sharing, and resilient infrastructure for detecting and responding to health threats.
He also urged stronger political commitment to drive reforms, noting that fragmented regulatory environments and slow infrastructure development have hampered effective health delivery. “Let Lyon be the turning point,” he said.
The One Health Summit gathers global leaders, policymakers, and health experts to tackle interconnected challenges, including disease prevention, environmental risks, and health security, with a focus on fostering coordinated international action.
