OVERVIEW | OBJECTIVES | AGENDA | TARGET AUDIENCE | SPEAKERS | ORGANIZERS
BACKGROUND & RATIONALE
Africa carries 25% of the global disease burden but accounts for less than 1% of global health expenditure. Many countries operate with fewer than two hospital beds per 1,000 people, and rural populations often face limited access to functional health facilities. Fragile supply chains further impede delivery of essential healthcare services.
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the structural weaknesses of African health systems, from overstretched hospitals to poor diagnostics and inequitable access to vaccines. Meanwhile, the rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases—such as hypertension, cancer, and diabetes—underscores the need for resilient, technology-enabled healthcare delivery systems.
Sustainable financing remains a major barrier. Islamic and ethical finance mechanisms—such as Sukuk, Waqf endowments, Lariba health financing models, and blended finance—offer responsible pathways for mobilizing long-term capital for healthcare infrastructure.
To address these challenges, the Africa Islamic Economic Forum (AFRIEF) has initiated the Africa Healthcare Infrastructure Development Program (AHIDEP) to drive investment, innovation, and cross-sector collaboration. AHIDEP will launch seven pilot healthcare infrastructure projects across six states in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, designed as proof-of-concept models for replication across other African countries.
This inaugural Summit will officially launch AHIDEP, unveil the seven pilot projects, and convene high-level leaders to explore practical solutions for transforming Africa’s health infrastructure. A highlight will be the presentation by Glocal Healthcare Systems PVT Ltd, AFRIEF’s exclusive technical partner, showcasing their scalable e-Primary Healthcare (ePHC) and tertiary healthcare solutions.
2. Purpose
Primary Purpose
Facilitate high-level dialogue to develop practical, actionable strategies for strengthening Africa’s health infrastructure.
Secondary Purpose
Formally launch AHIDEP and announce the seven pilot projects across six Nigerian states.
Tertiary Purpose
Showcase scalable solutions from Glocal Healthcare Systems and explore Islamic and ethical financing mechanisms for sustainable healthcare development.
