ACEPHAP Hosts Maiden International Conference
Africa Center of Excellence for Population Health and Policy (ACEPHAP) successfully held its maiden International Conference themed: "Resilience and Optimization: Building Sustainable Population Health in Africa." The event took place on January 21, 2025, at Bristol Palace Hotel, Kano.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Kano State Governor, Engineer Abba Kabir Yusuf, represented by his Deputy, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam, emphasized the importance of the conference in advancing health, education, and research in Kano and beyond. He stated that the conference serves as a platform to exchange ideas, innovations, and strategies that will help build sustainable population health systems in Africa.
"We are gathered not only as representatives of various institutions and states but as advocates for excellence in public health," he remarked.
The Governor highlighted the alignment of the conference theme with the state's mission to harness research, innovation, and traditional knowledge to improve health outcomes. He commended ACEPHAP for conducting cutting-edge research and providing training programs aimed at addressing unique health challenges in the region.
He further revealed that the administration has been collaborating with ACEPHAP in various health interventions, particularly the Kano State Surveillance for Evidence and Policy (KASSEP) project. This initiative seeks to institutionalize a Sample Registration System (SRS) to understand the causes and factors associated with maternal deaths and stillbirths, providing valuable insights for policy decisions.
Encouraging participants to engage actively, the Governor urged them to think critically and creatively, challenge existing policies, and propose strategies that can enhance health outcomes across Africa.
The Emir of Kano, Khalifa Dr. Muhammad Sanusi II, addressing the conference virtually via Zoom, stressed the importance of integrating traditional and community leaders into health development initiatives. He highlighted that grassroots involvement would facilitate proper record-keeping of pregnant women, births, and mortality rates, which are crucial for effective policy planning.
"If traditional leaders are involved, they can maintain vital records that will guide health policies and ensure development reaches grassroots communities," he noted.
The Emir expressed concerns over the lack of accurate health records, emphasizing that addressing maternal and child mortality requires reliable data. He commended ACEPHAP for organizing the conference and expressed optimism that its outcomes would help tackle critical health challenges across the continent.
In conclusion, participants were encouraged to collaborate, share expertise, and engage in meaningful discussions that would lead to actionable solutions, ensuring improvements in population health and contributing to the socio-economic development of the region.
