African govts urged on sexual, reproductive health prioritisation
Gitahi says “when governments invest in SRH such as family planning, maternal health and reducing health costs, they are building the country.”
Youth attending their summit at the Africa Health Agenda International Conference (AHAIC) in Kigali Rwanda on March 02, 2025. (Photos by Lawrence Mulondo.)
________________
As African governments strive to boost economic growth and development, experts are calling for a focus on a critical yet often neglected sector: Sexual and reproductive health (SRH).
Investing in SRH, they argue, is not just a moral responsibility but also a smart economic strategy.
Dr Githinji Gitahi, the Group CEO of Amref Health Africa, emphasizes that investing in SRH is essential for achieving sustainable economic growth in Africa.
He argues that SRH is not merely a health issue but an economic one.
Gitahi says “when governments invest in SRH such as family planning, maternal health and reducing health costs, they are building the country.”
He adds that when women and girls have access to quality SRH services, they are more likely to join the workforce, start businesses and contribute to the overall economic growth of their nations.
Gitahi stresses that reproductive health should be viewed not only as a matter of sexual rights but as a key component of social and economic development.
Call for youth involvement and policy change
Gitahi was on March 2, 2025, speaking at the Youth Summit at the Africa Health Agenda International Conference (AHAIC), organised by Amref Health Africa and its partners in Kigali, Rwanda.
He underscored the importance of young people advocating for the full implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, which includes initiatives like a common passport and open borders, creating job opportunities and markets for health innovations across the continent.
“If we fail to implement this, the consequences could be severe, presenting an existential threat to both Africa and the world,” he warned.
Desta Lakew, the Director of Fundraising and Partnership, Amref Health Africa during a panel discussion at a Youth Summit at the Africa Health Agenda International Conference (AHAIC) in Kigali Rwanda on March 02, 2025. 
He encouraged young people to be innovative but also stressed the need to address structural barriers by engaging with governments and pushing for policy changes.
“While encouraging youth entrepreneurship is important, we must also ensure that policies and regulatory frameworks support innovation, rather than stifling it,” he said.
Gitahi identified Africa's high dependency ratio as a key obstacle to economic growth.
He explained that the continent’s inability to raise the human capital index has led to a high dependency ratio, which burdens the working population.
“The reason there are no jobs and why the economy cannot support us is that we have a very high dependency ratio,” Dr. Gitahi said.
“Everyone who is working is paying ‘black tax,’ meaning they are supporting a large number of people, trying to educate them or feed them.”
He emphasized that addressing the dependency ratio, which is influenced by factors like the age of first pregnancy, fertility rates, and teenage pregnancies, is crucial for Africa's economic future.
Africa’s Progress in Public Health and Climate Change
Director of fundraising and partnerships at Amref Health Africa Desta Lakew highlighted Africa’s progress in integrating health into global conversations, including climate change discussions at COP28. Despite the challenges, she noted that the continent is making strides in advancing public health.
Lakew stressed the importance of engaging youth in health and climate change matters, as they are directly affected by these issues.
She expressed confidence that Africa is on the right track regarding public health but acknowledged that the involvement of young people remains a critical missing link.
Acting head of the youth division at the African Union Commission Ilwad Elmi Mohamed pointed out that many policies on health and women’s rights have been signed by governments but often fail at the implementation stage due to lack of domestication.
She cited the Maputo Protocol on Women's Rights, which was adopted in 2003, yet only 19 African nations have reported on its implementation.
Mohamed also highlighted the challenges posed by resource constraints, which hinder the effective delivery of health programs, especially at the national level.
Youth as drivers of health transformation
Joseph Wangendo, Senior Technical Advisor at the Africa Centre for Disease Control (CDC), spoke about the role of youth in transforming Africa's health systems. He described the summit as a platform to amplify the voices and ideas of young changemakers across the continent.
“This summit is not just about discussing youth; it is about recognising young people as drivers of Africa’s health transformation,” he said.
Wangendo also stressed that the summit aligned with the African Youth Charter, the Youth Decade Plan for Action, and the Africa CDC’s youth engagement efforts.
“The future of Africa’s health systems depends on the energy, creativity, and determination of its youth,” he concluded.
Emmanuel Cosmas, a youth leader from Tanzania, shared his belief that building a healthy and sustainable Africa begins with individual actions.
He encouraged young people to innovate and solve challenges in their communities.
“Innovation isn’t just about science projects; it’s about addressing real challenges. I once mobilized youth to donate blood after learning that women were dying in labor due to a blood shortage. That intervention helped save lives,” Cosmas shared.
Dominic Latti, CEO of LAD X, also encouraged youth to start small when launching businesses and embrace partnerships for growth.