The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Diana Atwine, has called on African countries to strategically increase domestic funding for health laboratories and the wider health sector.
Dr. Atwine made the appeal while delivering a keynote address at the 2025 Annual Africa Union CDC Laboratory Symposium held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Tuesday.
Speaking under the theme “Resilience in Diagnostics and Genomics for Public Health Security in a Shifting Funding Landscape,” Dr. Atwine emphasized that the survival of the African population, facing some of the world’s greatest health threats, depends on sustained investment in laboratory systems and health infrastructure.
Drawing from Uganda’s experience, Dr. Atwine urged African Union member states to view declining donor assistance as an opportunity to strengthen local capacity, enhance health and biological sovereignty, and improve efficiency in service delivery.
Her remarks drew resounding applause as she outlined bold and practical strategies for building a resilient health system through integration, increased domestic financing, local manufacturing, and stronger public–private partnerships.
Dr. Atwine also championed Uganda’s Build Uganda Buy Uganda (BUBU) policy, encouraging the African Union to adopt a continental version “Build Africa Buy Africa (BABA)”, to promote self-reliance and intra-African trade in health commodities.
The symposium, which runs from November 11–13, 2025, at the Adwa Memorial Convention Centre, brings together African Union Ministers of Health, AU CDC experts, development partners, laboratory directors, scientists, and policymakers from around the world.
The opening session was also addressed by Dr. Dereje Duguma, Ethiopia’s Minister of State for Health; the Deputy Director of Africa CDC and representatives from China, the European Union, and the Global Fund.
Dr. Atwine was accompanied by Dr. Charles Olaro, Director General of Health Services, and Dr. Susan Nabadda, Commissioner for National Health Laboratories and President of the Africa Laboratory Directors Forum.
