A national preparatory and mobilization meeting for the Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA 2026) took place in Bujumbura on Friday, September 25, 2026. The meeting, a key step in Burundi's engagement with continental health initiatives, aimed to prepare the nation for the upcoming conference and ensure its active participation. The overarching theme for CPHIA 2026 is 'Health security and sovereignty of Africa: moving from health dependence and vulnerability to ownership and resilience', a message resonating with the broader goals of self-sufficiency in public health across the continent.
Call for Participation
The Ministry of National Education and Scientific Research organized the meeting in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health and the Africa CDC Burundi. This collaborative effort showed the importance of a multi-sectoral approach to addressing public health challenges and fostering scientific advancement. During the gathering, senior officials and other attendees were strongly encouraged to apply as evaluators for the upcoming conference, contributing their expertise to the rigorous selection process for presentations and research. In a significant commitment to fostering national representation and expertise, Burundi also intends to finance the participation of more than a hundred individuals at CPHIA 2026. This financial support aims to remove barriers to participation for researchers, health professionals, and policymakers, ensuring a diverse and strong Burundian presence.
Conference Context and Goals
The Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA 2026) is scheduled to be held in Addis Ababa from November 23 to 27, 2026. This significant event serves as a premier platform for addressing Africa's most pressing public health issues. The conference aims to strengthen collaboration among African nations, facilitate extensive knowledge sharing, and show African-led solutions to build a more resilient, prepared, and autonomous public health landscape across the continent. All 55 member states of the African Union are expected to participate in the conference, emphasizing a unified approach to health challenges and a collective commitment to improving public health outcomes. The gathering provides a critical forum for leaders, researchers, and public health practitioners to discuss strategies, share best practices, and forge partnerships that will drive progress in health security and sovereignty.
Current Engagement and Next Steps
The scientific community in Burundi has been strongly urged to register and submit their abstracts through the official Africa CDC platform for CPHIA 2026. This call to action is vital for showcasing Burundi's research capabilities and contributing to the continental dialogue on health. As of the latest update, a significant push is still needed, as only 40 researchers out of a planned 111 have completed their online registration for the upcoming conference. This ongoing registration process is critical for Burundi's engagement with the broader African public health discourse and for ensuring its research findings are represented on the international stage.
Official Statements
The deadline for registration and abstract submission for CPHIA 2026 is September 30, 2026. This deadline is key for researchers and health professionals planning to participate and present their work, allowing them to contribute to the rich scientific program. The conference ultimately aims to address the continent's reliance on external assistance for health crises. Africa frequently depends on international support to manage epidemics and other public health challenges, a situation that CPHIA seeks to transform. The push for greater visibility in health research from countries like Burundi is part of a broader effort to reduce this dependency and foster self-sufficiency in public health. Increased participation in such conferences is seen as a vital step towards strengthening Africa's capacity to respond to its health needs independently, promoting innovation, and developing sustainable, homegrown solutions for health security.