By Seun Ibiyemi
The Government of Sierra Leone, in collaboration with the West African Health Organisation, has announced the hosting of the 27th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Health Ministers’ Assembly scheduled to take place in Freetown from 20 to 25 April 2026.
The announcement was made at a joint press conference ahead of the regional health summit, which is expected to bring together health ministers, technical experts, and development partners from across West Africa.
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Health, Austin Demby, described the event as a “national honour” and a reflection of the country’s growing leadership role in addressing public health challenges in the region, particularly malaria.
“For the first time in 15 years, Sierra Leone will host this important gathering, bringing together ministers, technical experts and partners with the aim of strengthening regional cooperation and addressing critical health challenges,” Demby said.
He also highlighted the proposed Freetown Charter, which focuses on technology-driven and data-based solutions to reduce maternal and infant mortality across the region. The Charter is expected to be a key outcome of the Assembly.
The Director-General of West African Health Organisation, Melchior Athanase J. C. Aïssi, noted that the Assembly serves as one of the highest decision-making platforms on health in West Africa.
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He said it provides member states with an opportunity to harmonise policies, strengthen commitments, and implement coordinated actions to improve public health outcomes.
Aïssi emphasised that malaria elimination remains the central theme of the 2026 session, stressing that diseases do not respect borders and therefore require collective and sustained regional action.
He also called for increased domestic resource mobilisation and innovative approaches to ensure long-term impact in tackling health challenges across the ECOWAS region.
