75th ECSA Health Ministers Conference

18 May 2025 | Crowne Plaza, Geneva, Switzerland

The East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC) successfully convened the 75th Health Ministers Conference (HMC) on 18th May 2025, held on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland. This closed session meeting brought together Health Ministers and high-level representatives from ECSA member states to review operational progress, strategic direction, and regional health priorities.

This year’s conference was chaired by Hon. Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, Minister of Health, Republic of Malawi, who officially assumed the role of Chairperson of the Health Ministers Conference for the 2025–2026 term. Malawi takes over from the Kingdom of Lesotho, whose leadership during the previous year was commended for navigating key milestones, including the 50th anniversary of ECSA-HC.

Key Highlights:

• Ratification of Resolutions from the 74th HMC (Lilongwe, Malawi):
  Ministers formally adopted the 13 Resolutions passed in February 2025, which focus on priority areas such as:

  • Health emergency preparedness and resilience

  • Advancing UHC and addressing geographical access barriers

  • Strengthening human resources for health and specialized training

  • Enhancing local manufacturing of health products

  • Investing in maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health

  • Combating NCDs, mental health challenges, and communicable diseases

  • Promoting health financing reforms and data integration

• Strategic Direction and Operational Oversight:
  Discussions focused on ECSA-HC’s Annual Work Plan and Budget for FY2025/26, the importance of financial stability, ongoing health programmes, and resource mobilization efforts across the region.

• Malawi’s Vision as Incoming Chair:
  Hon. Chiponda reaffirmed Malawi’s dedication to sustaining regional cooperation, supporting ECSA’s specialized colleges, enhancing cross-border surveillance, and ensuring implementation of the 10-year strategic plan launched earlier this year.

This milestone meeting once again affirmed the unity and shared commitment of ECSA Member States toward building stronger, more equitable health systems across the region.