Kenya Launches Inaugural Open Digital Health Summit to Accelerate Healthcare Transformation
𝐍𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐢, 𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 – The Cabinet Secretary for Health officially opened the first-ever Open Digital Health Summit in Nairobi, highlighting digital health as a key strategic investment in achieving Kenya’s national health goals.
The summit, co-hosted by the Ministry of Health, the Kenya Health Informatics Association, and the Pan African Association of Health Informatics (HELINA), aims to tackle the challenges of digital health in low- and middle-income countries.
In her opening remarks, the Cabinet Secretary emphasized the government’s commitment to integrating digital health as a cornerstone of the country’s healthcare transformation. She stressed that advancing digital solutions will drive progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and improve access to quality care for all Kenyans.
“Digital health is not just a tool; it is an essential part of our strategy to transform healthcare delivery,” said the Cabinet Secretary. “We are focused on building a Digital Public Infrastructure for Health, one that promotes open standards and interoperability to ensure seamless health information exchange and more efficient care coordination.”
The summit brings together key stakeholders, including health professionals, government officials, and representatives from global health organizations, to share insights and explore innovative digital health solutions. A key focus of the event is developing local digital talent, with the Ministry of Health unveiling its Digital Health Strategy for 2024-2027, aimed at creating a skilled workforce of Public Health Informaticians.
In attendance were Dr. Abdorahmane Diallo, WHO Representative in Kenya, Dr. Alain Labrique, WHO HQ Director of the Department of Digital Health & Innovation, and Jean Philbert Nsengimana, Chief Digital Advisor at the Africa CDC. Also present were Steven Wanyee, President of the Pan African Association of Health Informatics (HELINA), Silas Simatwo, Chair of the Digital Health Agency, Dr. Ayub Manya, Head of the Directorate of Digital Health & Policy at the Ministry of Health, Kenya, and Dr. Emma Waiyaiya, Executive Director of the Pan African Association of Health Informatics (HELINA).