Africa calls for leadership in digital health and AI governance at WHS Nairobi 2026
Date: 2026-04-28
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
WHO
Regional Director, Prof. Mohamed Janabi, has called for Africa to take a leading
role in shaping its digital and health future, emphasizing the importance of
ownership, governance, and innovation driven by the continent’s priorities.
Speaking
at the Ministerial Dialogue on AI, Data and Digital Sovereignty during World
Health Summit Regional Meeting 2026, Janabi highlighted that digital
technologies and artificial intelligence are already transforming healthcare
delivery and disease monitoring across Africa.
He
stressed that the central issue is not whether transformation will occur, but
whether it will be guided by African values, ethics, and realities. According
to him, health data sovereignty is critical to ensuring that countries maintain
control over their healthcare systems and the AI technologies built on their
data.
Janabi
noted that the governance of health data and AI systems goes beyond technical
considerations, describing it as a matter of political decision-making and
self-determination.
He
further emphasized that digital health and AI should be treated as strategic
national assets, underscoring the need for innovation that is developed within
Africa and aligned with local needs.
The
remarks reflect a growing continental push to ensure that emerging
technologies, from digital health systems to AI-driven diagnostics, are
designed and implemented in ways that strengthen national ownership and advance
Africa’s health priorities.
