Africa must prioritise investment in young people and health professionals to build stronger healthcare systems capable of meeting the continent’s future needs, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Prof. Mohamed Yakub Janabi, has said.
Prof. Janabi said investment in human resources for health would be key to ensuring citizens across Africa have access to quality and reliable healthcare services.
He made the remarks yesterday during the Mkapa Legacy Summit 2026 held at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC) in Dar es Salaam, where leaders and health experts from more than 25 African countries gathered to discuss the future of healthcare on the continent.
Prof. Janabi said the legacy of former President Benjamin William Mkapa continues to demonstrate the importance of leadership focused on improving people’s lives, particularly through strengthening healthcare delivery.
“President Benjamin William Mkapa believed that leadership is about serving citizens and not being served. For more than 20 years, the Benjamin William Mkapa Foundation has continued to turn that vision into action by strengthening health services,” he said.
He said the impact of the foundation’s work goes beyond figures and reports, as it can be seen through improved access to healthcare, especially in communities that previously faced shortages of medical professionals.
According to Prof. Janabi, health workers and innovators have played a critical role in transforming healthcare by working in underserved areas and developing solutions that make services more accessible to citizens.
However, he warned that Africa faces a growing challenge of health workforce shortages, with the world projected to experience a significant deficit of health professionals by 2030.
He said governments and stakeholders must increase investment in training, recruitment, retention and better working conditions to ensure countries have enough skilled health workers to serve their populations.
“Addressing this challenge requires urgent investment in education, employment, supportive working environments and professional growth opportunities for health workers,” Prof. Janabi said.
He noted that although Africa continues to produce more graduates in health-related fields, many professionals leave the continent in search of better working conditions and career opportunities.
To reverse the trend, Prof. Janabi said WHO is collaborating with African countries through the Africa Health Workforce Agenda 2026–2035, which seeks to expand the health workforce, improve employment systems, retain professionals and enhance the quality of healthcare delivery.
He emphasised that strong health systems are essential for protecting citizens against disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies.
“Investing in health workers is not only about improving medical services; it is also about building stronger nations, supporting economic growth and promoting social development,” he said.
The Mkapa Legacy Summit 2026 brings together African health stakeholders to reflect on sustainable solutions for healthcare challenges while advancing the vision of stronger, people-centred health systems across the continent.
