Khadijah Aliyu -Nigeria
The third day of the 2025 Galien Africa Forum was dedicated to advancing women’s leadership and equality as vital pillars for achieving health sovereignty across Africa.
A series of high-level plenary sessions explored how African nations can take control of their health priorities and build resilient systems that reflect local realities.
Women Take Center Stage at Galien Africa Forum 2025
At the Women’s Forum, discussions centered on the role of the media in promoting health and social transformation across the continent. Leading the session, Mr. Youssouf Bamba, President of the African Media Network for the Promotion of Health and the Environment (REMAPSEN), highlighted the media’s critical role as a development partner in health governance.
“Health sovereignty cannot be won without accurate communication,” he said. “If you leave your messaging to others, you risk misrepresenting your own data. Media must be seen as vectors of accurate information because information is key.”
With representation in over 40 African countries, REMAPSEN has become a continental hub for health and environmental journalism, promoting public awareness, policy advocacy, and partnerships with government institutions, international agencies, and civil society.
Health Sovereignty in Focus as REMAPSEN, Galien Africa Hold Pre-Forum Webinar
The session, moderated by Professor Ndioro Ndiaye, President of the Alliance for Migration, Leadership and Development, and Mr. James Wanki of UNFPA, examined the sub-theme: “Correcting Inequalities for Health Sovereignty in Africa.”
Prof. Ndiaye emphasized that Africa’s path to health sovereignty depends not only on scientific innovation but also on equity, mentorship, and inclusive communication*.
“Those attending the 2025 Galien Forum must be seen taking the bull by the horns this cannot be just another talk-shop,” .
Mr. Wanki drew attention to the urgency of gender equity in health systems, noting that
“every four minutes, a pregnant woman dies; every seventeen seconds, a newborn is lost in the region.”
> He called for political will, social reform, and “a reset of social norms to promote positive masculinity,” adding that “gender equality is political.”
From Nigeria, Dr. Amina Aminu Dorayi, Senior Country Director of Pathfinder International, highlighted that equity must be the foundation of all health system reforms.
In Benin, Prof. Christine Ouinsavi, Chair of the Ouagadougou Partnership Women Leadership Accelerator (OWLA), emphasized mentorship and youth inclusion as drivers of sustainable progress.
“Health indicators have improved over the last two decades, but sustaining these gains requires involving the youth. Mentorship unlocks potential and ensures results,”.
Representing UNICEF**, Mrs. Ulrike Gilbert advocated fordisaggregated data to inform community health initiatives and stronger investments in women’s participation in the health workforce.
From Senegal, Dr. Cheikh Saad Bou Sarr, Executive Director of ADEMAS, warned about the rising cost of care:
“Access to health services remains expensive. If Africa wants health sovereignty, the cost of quality health products must be reduced, especially for women.”
Closing the panel, Dr. Namrata Singh of the Empower School of Health stressed that true empowerment extends beyond access:
“Empowerment goes beyond access—it is about agency.”
The 8th Galien Africa Forum concludes on Friday, October 31, 2025, in Dakar, with the 5th Galien Prize Awards Ceremony at the King Fahd Hotel.
The event, to be attended by the President of the Republic of Senegal, will celebrate outstanding researchers, scientists, innovators, and young professionals whose contributions have advanced healthcare and scientific development across Africa.