Storyline: The inaugural Africa Health Summit has recently concluded in Kampala, Kenya, charting a course for the continent's push to reduce reliance on external support and achieve health sovereignty through innovation and collaboration. More than 1,000 delegates from Africa and beyond attended the summit held under the banner "Reclaiming Africa's Health Future: From Dependency to Sovereignty through Innovation and Solidarity." Discussions focused on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and the urgent need to boost the continent's capacity to detect, prevent, and respond to health threats, with a collective call to build stronger, home-grown health systems. "Africa is already a laboratory of ideas, mobile money, health payments, drone deliveries, and AI-assisted diagnostics. Our scientists lead in genomics surveillance. Our researchers and programs have driven the trials and roll-out of malaria vaccines, now expanding across the continent," said Dr. Abdourahmane Diallo, director of Program Management at the WHO Regional Office for Africa, when addressing the summit on Friday. Speakers said at the summit that self-reliance in the health sector can be achieved through building stronger research institutions, expanding local production, and ensuring African governments' lead on policy, while treating health as a foundation for long-term growth. "The time has come to redefine health as a pillar of economic growth and not as a social afterthought. We must build sovereignty in production, in research, and in policy," said Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, Uganda's health minister. Delegates also linked health sovereignty to economic stability and continental security, calling for coordinated actions among African states. According to the delegates, the summit helped establish critical foundations by advancing African manufacturing, training health workers, and adopting technologies like drones and diagnostic apps. The goal is to be ready for the next crisis long before it emerges. There was also a strong push to harmonize regulations to facilitate cross-border movement of African-made medicines, vaccines, and diagnostics. "We must harmonize regulatory frameworks to allow medicines, vaccines, diagnostics, and health technologies developed in one African State to be distributed efficiently across the continent," said Amason Kingi, Speaker of the Senate of Kenya. Participants urged governments to match political commitments with real investments in local industry, research, and technology. Throughout the venue, innovators demonstrated home-grown health tools, from diagnostic apps to locally produced medical supplies, as delegates positioned Kampala as a rising hub for Africa's health agenda and the start of a long-term push for health sovereignty. Shotlist: Kampala, Uganda - Nov 14, 2025: 1. Various of Africa Health Summit in progress, attendees FILE: Location and Date Unknown: 2. Various of medical worker examining patient, medical equipment Kampala, Uganda - Nov 14, 2025: 3. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Abdourahmane Diallo, director, Programme Management, WHO Regional Office for Africa (starting with shot 2): "Africa is already a laboratory of ideas, mobile money, health payments, drone deliveries, and AI-assisted diagnostics. Our scientists lead in genomics surveillance. Our researchers and programs have driven the trials and roll-out of malaria vaccines, now expanding across the continent." FILE: Location and Date Unknown: 4. Various of medical workers working in lab, medical equipment Kampala, Uganda - Nov 14, 2025: 5. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, Ugandan Health Minister (starting with shot 4): "The time has come to redefine health as a pillar of economic growth and not as a social afterthought. We must build sovereignty in production, in research, and in policy." FILE: Location and Date Unknown: 6. Various of medical workers, patients waiting in hospital 7. Various of medicine production line, workers Kampala, Uganda - Nov 14, 2025: 8. SOUNDBITE (English) Amason Kingi, Senate Speaker, Kenya (starting with shot 7): "We must harmonize regulatory frameworks to allow medicines, vaccines, diagnostics, and health technologies developed in one African state to be distributed efficiently across the continent." 9. Various of attendees gathering on stage for group photos 10. Exhibitor introducing medical products to attendees.