By Fezile Mkhatshwa
Eswatini joined fellow African Union member states at the 4th International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA 2025), a landmark event dedicated to building a new, self-reliant future for the continent’s health. The conference, which ran from 22 to 25 October at the Durban International Convention Centre in South Africa, brought together government leaders, top scientists, researchers, and civil society to share lessons and strengthen public health systems.
This year’s gathering, hosted by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in partnership with the Government of South Africa and AfricaBio, was centered on a powerful theme: ‘Moving Towards Self-Reliance to Achieve Universal Health Coverage and Health Security in Africa’.
For Eswatini, this theme was not just a topic of discussion but a story of practical experience. Samkelisiwe Shabangu, representing the country, provided a key case study during a panel discussion on ‘Enhancing Collaboration and Peer-to-Peer Exchange’. She shared Eswatini’s journey of using collaboration to build its own national public health institute (NPHI), the Eswatini Center for Disease Control (Eswatini CDC).
A Continental Call for a New Direction
The CPHIA 2025 conference opened with a clear and urgent message: Africa must define its own agenda and build its own solutions.
H.E. Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director-General of Africa CDC, emphasized this new era of confidence. “For the first time, Africa is inspiring the world. The world is coming to learn from Africa,” he stated. “We are 1.4 billion proud Africans making our own agenda. We are proud of that”.
This sentiment was echoed by leaders who stressed the need to break from old dependencies. “We know that our healthcare industry on the continent at large is using borrowed technologies, borrowed ideas, and borrowed science,” warned Dr. Nhianhia Msomi, President of AfricaBio. “Unless we move away and decouple from that, we’re not likely to win this battle”.
The conference, which will result in an outcome statement to guide global health reform, is focused on key strategic priorities. Discussions are tackling everything from strengthening health financing and scaling digital health to expanding primary health care and, crucially, accelerating the local production of vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics.
Dr. Joe Phaahla, Deputy Minister of Health for South Africa, framed the mission in terms of justice,
“Every decision we take here must move us closer to health equity, economic inclusion, and social justice… we can build a future where our health systems are financed, powered, and sustained by Africans themselves”.
Eswatini’s Journey: From Questions to a Clear Roadmap
Eswatini’s story, as shared by Ms. Shabangu, provided a practical example of this ‘African-powered’ approach.
She explained that the initial Eswatini CDC Think Tank had developed a draft concept note but was faced with fundamental questions. These included: What specific gap would the Eswatini
CDC fill? How could it avoid duplicating work already being done? How would the new entity be funded, structured, and staffed?
Instead of looking for a ‘borrowed’ model, Eswatini turned to its peers. The country organized learning visits to Liberia, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa which are nations that already had functioning NPHIs. Samukelisiwe shares more with the panel.
“These visits opened our eyes and helped us understand the real value of a National Public Health Institute, and how it can bring together data, science, and coordination in ways that routine programs cannot”.
This peer-to-peer exchange proved invaluable. “We learned directly from people who have gone through the same journey,” she added. “They shared not only their successes but also their mistakes and what they would do differently if given the chance”.
Building a Sustainable, Autonomous Eswatini CDC
The lessons from these visits were concrete and transformative. Eswatini gained clear insights into institutional design, governance models, and the importance of solid legal frameworks.
The visits also strengthened the country’s understanding of how to apply the One Health approach, a key theme at CPHIA 2025. This approach links human, animal, and environmental health to create a more coordinated response to public health threats. Eswatini has since been building on progress made through its One Health Directors Forum, which is serving as the operational platform for the upcoming institute.
As a direct result of this African-led collaboration, the Eswatini CDC has refined its roadmap.
Critically, Ms. Shabangu explained, the country has shifted from a four-phase structure to a direct parastatal model. This new approach is specifically “designed to give the institution more autonomy and sustainability”.
With legal mapping for the Eswatini CDC now complete, the path forward is clearer. “We are now in a better position to answer the questions we had at the beginning,” Ms. Shabangu explained. “The learning visits helped us define our vision and be clear on what kind of CDC we want for Eswatini”.
By participating in CPHIA 2025, Eswatini is not just a listener but an active contributor, sharing a proven model of collaboration. This is in fact, the very essence of the conference: a shared vision for a healthier, safer, and more self-reliant continent, built on partnership and African-owned solutions.
About the Conference Organizers
Africa CDC: The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention is an autonomous public health agency of the African Union. It supports member states by strengthening health systems, improving disease surveillance, and managing emergency responses.
AfricaBio: AfricaBio is an independent, non-profit association for biotechnology stakeholders. Its role is to create awareness and build confidence in biotechnology and biosafety within South Africa and the wider African region.