African Union Appoints President Samia Suluhu Hassan as Champion for Maternal and Child Health

The 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly, held from February 13 to 15, 2026, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, focused on enhancing health sovereignty and improving the well-being of women, children, and adolescents across the continent. Amidst challenges such as reduced development assistance and fiscal constraints, African leaders committed to strengthening domestic health systems and reducing external dependencies.

A significant development during the summit was the appointment of Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan as the AU Champion for Reproductive, Maternal, and Child Health. In this role, President Hassan will lead efforts to enhance collaboration among AU member states to improve reproductive health services and maternal and child health outcomes. This appointment underscores the AU's dedication to translating political commitments into tangible health improvements.

Reflecting on Tanzania's progress, President Hassan noted a substantial reduction in maternal mortality rates, from 556 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2015/16 to 104 in 2023/24. She attributed this success to domestic financing, partnerships with faith-based organizations and the private sector, and innovations like the m-mama program, a mobile-enabled emergency transportation system connecting expectant mothers in rural areas to hospitals. She emphasized the importance of scaling successful national models across Africa.

Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), highlighted the significance of President Hassan's appointment, stating that she will catalyze and mobilize domestic resources for maternal, child, and adolescent health, and lead the annual scorecard presented at the AU Assembly.

The summit also addressed the need for African health security and self-reliance. Leaders from Nigeria, Kenya, and the Africa CDC called for a reevaluation of the continent's health strategies, emphasizing the reduction of dependence on foreign aid and the strengthening of local health systems. Member states set a target of deploying two million community health workers by 2030 to bolster primary health care, achieve universal health coverage, and enhance pandemic preparedness.

On the sidelines of the summit, the Global Leaders Network for Women's, Children's, and Adolescents' Health (GLN), in partnership with the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH), convened a high-level ministerial roundtable titled "Investing in Africa's Future: A Ministerial and Partner Conversation on Women's, Children's, and Adolescents' Health." The roundtable brought together African health ministers and global partners to assess progress, address shared challenges, and identify pathways forward for maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health across the continent.

Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for approximately 70% of global maternal deaths and nearly 58% of global under-five deaths. Participants at the roundtable reaffirmed that political alignment, cross-sector engagement, and accountability mechanisms are essential to accelerating progress toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

The discussions and commitments made during the summit and its associated events highlight the importance of coordinated action at national, regional, and continental levels to safeguard and expand essential health services for women, children, and adolescents. With President Hassan's appointment lending renewed political momentum to this agenda, and with African leaders increasingly aligned on the need for health sovereignty and self-reliance, the conditions for meaningful, lasting progress are within reach.