By: Precious Miracle Kargbo (Snr)
Sierra Leone is set to host the 27th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Health Ministers of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) from 20-25 April 2026. Organizers say the programme will strongly focus on accelerating malaria elimination while strengthening regional health financing and cooperation.
The high-level regional meeting, organized by the West African Health Organization (WAHO), will bring together health ministers, technical partners, financial stakeholders, and civil society representatives. Participants are expected to review progress, adopt strategic directions, and outline joint actions to improve health systems across the ECOWAS region.
The Assembly’s theme, “Advancing Malaria Elimination through an Integrated Regional Strategy,” underscores the urgency of addressing one of the region’s most pressing public health challenges.
According to organizers, West Africa records more than 112 million malaria cases and over 310,000 deaths each year, with children under five and pregnant women disproportionately affected. The event coincides with World Malaria Day on 25 April, providing an opportunity to strengthen political commitment and regional mobilization toward malaria elimination.
Several preparatory and side events are scheduled ahead of the Assembly. These include a Regional Meeting on Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (17-18 April), which will focus on translating research into policy and practice, and a Regional Dialogue on Health Financing in West Africa (20-21 April). The dialogue will be held under the theme “Advancing Sustainable, Equitable, and Resilient Health Financing for Universal Health Coverage in ECOWAS.”
These sessions aim to advance discussions on domestic resource mobilization, equitable financing mechanisms, and the resilience of health systems across the region.
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Health, Austin Demby, welcomed the Assembly as a platform for meaningful commitments.
“We hope this gathering will be more than a conference; it should serve as a platform for concrete commitments and coordinated actions to sustainably improve the health of West African populations,” he said.
The Director General of WAHO, Melchior Athanase J. C. Aïssi, described the Assembly as the region’s highest political decision-making forum on health. He noted that it provides member states with an opportunity to mobilize resources, strengthen collaboration, and accelerate progress toward resilient and equitable health systems.
He emphasized that regional cooperation is critical for tackling cross-border epidemic-prone diseases, addressing climate-related health impacts, and closing the financing gaps that hinder sustained malaria control.
The Assembly will feature a series of technical and statutory meetings, including the WAHO Liaison Officers’ Meeting, the ECOWAS Health Experts Committee, and a WAHO Partners’ Forum. These sessions will culminate in ministerial meetings scheduled for 24-25 April.
Organizers expect several hundred participants from governments, regional institutions, international organizations, and development partners. The outcomes of the Assembly are expected to translate into targeted interventions, strengthened epidemiological surveillance, and more sustainable financing for malaria control programmes across the region.