By Amin Kef (Ranger)
The African Women Summit 2024 commenced on Wednesday May 8, 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya with a clarion call for the empowerment and betterment of women’s health across the continent. The prestigious event gathered hundreds of female leaders and delegates, initiating a three-day journey of inspiration and collective action.
Tuma Adama Gento-Kamara, at the forefront of the summit, extended a warm welcome to attendees, expressing her profound honor in hosting a convergence of such magnitude. With an emphasis on the event’s theme: “Women’s Health: Empowering Voices, Inspiring Change,” Madam Tuma Adama Gento-Kamara addressed the urgency of prioritizing women’s health as a cornerstone of human rights and sustainable development.
The leader of the summit pointed to concerning World Health Organization statistics delineating the prevalence of serious health issues such as drug use disorders, cardiovascular diseases, cancers and HIV/AIDS among African women. Against a backdrop of a burgeoning female population, she urged a unified approach from health experts, advocates, academics and funding bodies to tackle these critical health challenges head-on.
Madam Tuma Adama Gento-Kamara called for an end to the silence surrounding women’s health issues and advocated for the dismantling of barriers that prevent access to healthcare services. Her message was clear: empower women to take charge of their health and futures.
The summit promises to be a crucible for meaningful dialogue, providing valuable insights and fostering strategic partnerships dedicated to transforming the women’s health landscape in Africa. Madam Tuma Adama Gento-Kamara encouraged every participant to contribute their voice, expertise and fervor to the movement, underscoring the power of solidarity in instigating change.
Upon officially opening the Africa Women Summit 2024, the assembly responded with enthusiastic applause, signaling a unified commitment to advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls throughout the continent.
Filled with a renewed sense of purpose, attendees left the inaugural session poised to enact positive change, marking the beginning of what is hoped to be a transformative era in the pursuit of health and empowerment for African women.
