On the margins of the 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly, the African Union Commission convened a High-Level Side Event on Digital Health Technologies for Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) under the theme: “Strengthening Integrated WASH-RMNCAH Systems through Digital and Data-Driven Approaches to Advance the Maputo Plan of Action and CARMMA Plus.”

The event underscored Africa’s urgent need to accelerate progress in ending preventable maternal, newborn, and child deaths, leveraging digital transformation as a strategic enabler. Despite progress under the CARMMA Plus Campaign and the Maputo Plan of Action, Africa’s maternal mortality ratio remains unacceptably high at 442 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023, accounting for nearly two-thirds of global maternal deaths

In her welcome remarks, H.E. Amb. Amma A. Twum-Amoah, Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, emphasized that digital health is no longer optional, but essential for strengthening primary health care systems, integrating WASH and RMNCAH services, and reinforcing accountability across Member States.

She highlighted that digital and interoperable systems can: Enable real-time monitoring of maternal and newborn outcomes, improve referral systems and emergency obstetric care, strengthen supply chain management, enhance accountability and transparency, and expand equitable access to underserved and last-mile communities.

Represented by Hon. Mohamed Omary Mchengerwa, H.E. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, and Guest of Honour, reaffirmed Tanzania’s commitment to digital health transformation. Tanzania’s innovations, including digital maternal death reviews, telemedicine, and the M-Mama emergency referral platform, were highlighted as practical examples of technology-guided health system strengthening.

Representing the Director General of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Landry Dongmo Tsague described maternal mortality as a “silent emergency,” noting that preventable maternal deaths remain a moral and public health failure. He reaffirmed Africa CDC’s Health Security and Sovereignty agenda, emphasizing digital transformation and the flagship “Sovereign Data for Health” initiative as central pillars for building resilient health systems.

Ms. Alison Barker, UNICEF Deputy Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, called for digital transformation to be anchored in resilient, sustainably financed primary health care systems, ensuring equity for vulnerable and last-mile populations.

Dr. Hanan Balkhy of the World Health Organization and Ms. Diene Keita of the United Nations Population Fund stressed that digital technologies can strengthen integrated WASH-RMNCAH systems, support frontline health workers, and improve data-driven decision-making, particularly in fragile and humanitarian settings.

Delivering a powerful keynote address, H.E. Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, President of the Organization of African First Ladies for Development, underscored that maternal health is fundamentally about dignity and justice. She emphasized that digital tools must protect privacy, strengthen inclusion, and reflect the lived realities of women and adolescent girls.

A major highlight of the event was the official launch of the CARMMA Plus Campaign website, a continental digital hub designed to showcase Member State commitments and innovations, enable progress tracking and accountability, strengthen knowledge sharing and partnerships, and promote data-driven decision-making. The platform operationalizes the Campaign’s Accountability Partnership Framework and aligns with the African Union Digital Health Strategy 2024–2030.

Ministers and representatives from Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia shared national experiences demonstrating how digital tools are improving high-risk pregnancy detection, referral systems, telemedicine services, supply chain monitoring, and immunization outreach

In his closing remarks, Prof. Julio Rakotonirina, Director for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, called upon Member States to: Expand digital infrastructure in underserved areas, Strengthen interoperability and break sectoral silos, Invest in local digital innovation and workforce capacity, and Mobilize domestic resources to finance sustainable digital health systems He emphasized that CARMMA Plus must be resourced as a Member State-driven accountability compact and that digital transformation must translate into measurable lives saved

The High-Level Side Event reaffirmed Africa’s collective commitment to harnessing digital transformation as a catalytic driver to advance the Maputo Plan of Action, accelerate the CARMMA Plus Campaign, and achieve Agenda 2063 aspirations for women, children, and adolescents.

For further information, please contact: 

Mr. Derrick Ochuot | Strategic Communication Expert | Directorate of Health and Humanitarian Affairs | Health Systems, Diseases and Nutrition Division | African Union Commission | E-mail: OchuotD@africanunion.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.