Africa CDC and South Africa to Host 4th International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA 2025) in Durban
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the Government of South Africa have announced that the 4th International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA 2025) will take place from 22 to 25 October 2025 in Durban. The event will be held under the theme “Moving Towards Self-Reliance to Achieve Universal Health Coverage and Health Security in Africa.”
Co-hosted in collaboration with AfricaBio’s 8th Annual BIO Africa Convention, the conference will bring together political leaders, policymakers, researchers, innovators, civil society, and youth. Participants will explore strategies to strengthen Africa’s health systems and reduce reliance on foreign aid through innovation, partnership, and investment in local capacity.
“CPHIA is a vital part of ongoing efforts by African countries and Africa CDC to build stronger, self-reliant health systems,” said H.E. Dr Jean Kaseya, Director-General of Africa CDC. “It provides an important platform for leaders, public health experts, and communities to reimagine and transform health financing, ensuring Africa’s health security is driven by African leadership, innovation, and partnerships.”
The timing of the event carries significant global importance, preceding the G20 Health Ministers’ meeting to be held in early November under South Africa’s Presidency. The CPHIA 2025 Outcome Declaration – known as the “Durban Declaration” – will articulate Africa’s unified position on health, placing African-led solutions at the heart of global health reform.
“CPHIA is a critical opportunity to promote an African-led agenda for health, anchored in self-reliance and transformation,” said Professor Olive Shisana, Co-Chair of CPHIA 2025. “We aim to align around a Durban Declaration that ensures these priorities are front and centre during the G20 and Global Fund Meetings in November.”
The G20 Health Ministers’ meeting will address issues of global health equity and universal coverage, with outcomes feeding into the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg later in November, where Africa’s priorities on health and development are expected to take centre stage.
Under the scientific leadership of Professor Olive Shisana (President, Evidence Based Solutions) and Professor Placide Mbala Kingebeni (Director, National Institute of Biomedical Research, DRC), CPHIA 2025 will draw experts from over 20 countries. The conference will revolve around three strategic pillars:
- Financing the Future: Investing in resilient, efficient, and sustainable health systems while promoting innovative funding models for African-led priorities.
- Boosting Local Manufacturing: Scaling up vaccine, medicine, and diagnostic production across Africa to ensure health sovereignty.
- Transforming Primary Health Care: Showcasing African innovations, including digital health and AI-driven solutions, to enhance access and quality of care.
Dr Nhlanhla Msomi, President of AfricaBio, noted, “The BIO Africa Convention is proud to join forces with Africa CDC to connect science, innovation, and enterprise with public health. Together, we can harness the continent’s life sciences ecosystem to drive health resilience and self-reliance.”
