Korede Abdullah in Lagos
The African Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has empowered 30 young health professionals across the continent through its Bingwa PLUS Y-Health Incubation Programme, aimed at addressing pressing public health challenges in their communities.
Speaking at the programme’s pitching event in Abuja on Friday, Senior Technical Officer and Youth Division Lead at Africa CDC, Dr. Chrys Promesse Kaniki emphasized the centrality of youth in building resilient health systems.
“Young people live in the community, enabling them to identify real problems and collaborate with us to co-create solutions,” he noted.
The initiative, themed “Accelerating Youth-Led Health Innovations in Africa,” received nearly 2,000 applications, reflecting widespread interest and potential across the continent.
The expanded Bingwa programme builds on earlier youth engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic and now targets broader health areas, including mental health, digital innovation, and non-communicable diseases.
Kaniki underscored the urgency of implementing a “new public health order” led by youth, describing them as “a vital asset for Africa.”
At the event, participants pitched innovative ideas to a panel of judges, with the top solutions positioned to receive grants and partnerships to bring their concepts to life.
“We must safeguard our population’s health, and that starts by trusting the creativity and leadership of young people,” Kaniki added.
Executive Director of YouthhubAfrica, Rotimi Olawale hailed the programme as “very exciting,” highlighting the quality of ideas presented from 30 finalists selected across 40 countries.
“Our goal is for young people to contribute solutions to Africa’s health challenges,” he said.
Youth Engagement Advisor at GIZ, African Union, Metasebiya Ayele Mamo, echoed this sentiment, stressing the importance of financial investment in youth-driven initiatives.
“These young people are champions. We want to demonstrate that investing in young people’s ideas works,” she remarked, calling it a “proof of concept” for sustainable public health innovation in Africa.
