Africa’s health systems stand at a critical juncture, shaped by evolving health priorities, persistent inequalities and the need for stronger, more resilient systems capable of responding to the continent’s unique realities.

The Pan-African Health Sciences Forum invites you to a distinguished Global Health Lecture and panel discussion, bringing together leaders and experts in health, policy and academia to explore how Africa can strengthen its healthcare systems to better serve its people.

The keynote address will be delivered by Professor Sheila Tlou, former Minister of Health of Botswana and Chancellor of Botswana Open University. A globally respected health leader and advocate, Professor Tlou brings decades of experience spanning health policy, government, academia and public health leadership.

She will be joined by an expert panel comprising Dr Fezile Khumalo, Dr Rene Krause, Dr Tendani Mabuda and Ms Marian Kinnes, who will contribute diverse perspectives to a discussion on the challenges, opportunities and collective action required to advance healthcare across the continent.

“Enhancing Our Healthcare Systems to Better Serve Africa’s Healthcare Needs” provides a platform for meaningful dialogue on one of the continent’s most consequential priorities, creating an opportunity to exchange ideas, challenge current thinking and consider how leadership, research, policy and collaboration can translate into stronger health systems and better health outcomes.

We invite members of the health sciences community, government, media, policymakers, practitioners, researchers, students and partners to be part of this important Pan-African conversation.

Event information

• In-person event
• CPD accredited
• Registration is required

Explore the keynote speaker profile and programme, and RSVP to join the conversation.

About our Keynote Speaker:

Prof. Sheila Tlou is the Chancellor of the Botswana Open University and has just made Avance Media’s list of 100 Most Influential Women in Africa. She is also in the 2023 List of 100 Most Reputable Africans, by Reputation Poll International. Prof. Tlou is the Co-Chair of the Global HIV Prevention Coalition, Special Ambassador for African Leaders Malaria Alliance, Member of The Pontifical Academy for Life, Chancellor of Botswana Open University, Champion of the Nursing Now Challenge, Trustee to Board of Florence Nightingale Foundation, Member of the Board of Trustees of Society for AIDS in Africa, and Advisory Board member for Harvard Global Nursing Leadership Program. From 2010 to 2017 she was Director of the UNAIDS Regional Support Team for Eastern and Southern Africa. She is a former Member of Parliament and Minister of Health of the Republic of Botswana (2004-2008). She is also former Professor of Nursing at the University of Botswana and Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing and Midwifery Development in Primary Health Care for Anglophone Africa. She has conducted research and taught courses to nursing, pre-medical and social science students on Gender issues relating to HIV/AIDS, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Ageing and Older Persons. She has played a key role in the development of national nursing and medical education curricula, working to broaden the scope of Health Sciences education in her home country of Botswana.

Prof. Tlou became involved in the AIDS response from the time the epidemic started in Botswana in 1985. She has worked to increase community awareness of HIV and AIDS in Botswana using youth groups, nongovernmental organizations, and grassroots women’s organizations. She was HIV/ AIDS Coordinator at the University of Botswana from 2002-2004 and facilitated the formation of the Students Against AIDS Society (SAHA). She is the founder of the Botswana chapter of the Society of Women and AIDS in Africa (SWAA) in which volunteers are trained in home- based care and educate families on Human Rights and Gender Equality in the AIDS response. Prof. Tlou holds a PhD in Nursing Sciences and post-graduate Certificates in Women’s health and Gender studies, from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She has a Master’s degree in Nursing Education and Instruction from Columbia University, a Master of Science in Nursing from the Catholic University of America, and a Bachelor of Nursing degree from Dillard University in New Orleans. She has many publications on gender issues relating to HIV and AIDS, Older Persons, Menopause, and community-based approaches to HIV prevention. In 2001, she addressed the United Nations on ‘Women, the Girl Child and HIV/AIDS’, and participated as a panelist in Side Events on Women and HIV/AIDS, organized by WHO and UNAIDS at the UN Special General Assembly on AIDS (UNGAS). She has provided consultancy for the World Health Organization, UNAIDS, UNFPA, the International Council of Nurses, and the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.

During her term as Minister of Health, Prof. Tlou contributed to the improvement of global health care, especially for women and girls. She led a comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support program in Botswana whose achievements include: A roll out of ARVs and PMTCT to near universal (90%) uptake. Transmission of HIV from mother to child decreased from 30% in 2003 to 8% in 2008, and maternal mortality due to AIDS decreased from 34% to 9%. 

As Chairperson of SADC and of the African Union Ministers of Health in 2005/6, Prof. Tlou provided leadership in the adoption of the SADC Malaria Eradication Program, the SADC HIV/AIDS Plan of Action, the Africa Framework on Sexual and Reproductive Health, the Africa Health Strategy, and the Maputo Plan of Action on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. Prof. Tlou also represented Eastern and Southern Africa in the Board of the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

She has received many national and international awards, among them the Botswana Presidential Order of Honor, the Florence Nightingale Medal from the International Red Cross Society, the Trailblazer Woman Leading Change Award from the World YWCA, the Leadership in Health award from the Global Business Council (Health), the President award from the US National Academy of Nursing, the President award from the US National League for Nursing, the Princess Srinagarindra award from Thailand, the Christianne Reimann award from the International Council of Nurses, and The Princess Muna Al Hussein award from the American Nurses Credentialing Centre. She is the United Nations Eminent Person for Women, Girls, and HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa, and the International Council of Nurses Goodwill Ambassador for Girl Child Education.

In her past assignment as UNAIDS Regional Director, Prof. Tlou provided leadership and Political Advocacy for quality sustainable AIDS response in 21 African countries, from Eritrea to South Africa, including the Indian Ocean Islands of Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles and Comoros. She was instrumental in the formation of advocacy bodies such as The Pan-African Positive Women’s Coalition (PAPWC) and the High-Level Task Force on Women, Girls, Gender Equality and HIV in Africa; and she initiated and chaired a High-Level Task Force on Comprehensive Sexuality Education and Services for Young People in Eastern and Southern Africa.

As Co-Chair of the Nursing Now Global Campaign, the aim was to raise the status and profile of nursing. Run in collaboration with the World Health Organisation and the International Council of Nurses, Nursing Now aims to empower nurses to take their place at the heart of tackling 21st Century health challenges. The campaign also aims to improve perceptions of nurses, enhance their influence and maximise their contributions to ensuring that everyone everywhere has access to health and healthcare.
She is also Co-Chair of the Global HIV Prevention Coalition, initiated by UNAIDS and UNFPA, and borne out of the need to address the gap and rise in new infections despite success in treatment and care in all countries across the world. Countries have committed to reducing new HIV infections to fewer than 500 000 annually by 2020 and ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

Prof. Tlou has a great appreciation for fine and performing arts and has been involved in amateur theatre since her primary education. She has portrayed Precious Ramotswe, the heroine of Alexander McCall Smith’s Number One Ladies Detective Agency book series, in several amateur theatre productions in Botswana. She also starred in the Anthony Mingella BBC Movie: The Number One Ladies Detective Agency (2008)