Addis Ababa Prepares to Host Major Health Conferences Amid Broader Urban Renewal

Addis Ababa is preparing to host major international health gatherings, including the International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA 2026), where organizers project more than 30,000 delegates from across Africa and the global health community will convene at the Addis International Convention Center.

According to conference materials from Africa CDC, the five-day gathering will feature over 100 sessions bringing together heads of state, policymakers, researchers, and community leaders. As a flagship initiative of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and African Union member states, the conference aims to turn scientific research into health products, tools, and sustainable health investments.

Continental Health Priorities and Emergency Drills

Discussions during CPHIA 2026 are slated to focus on African health sovereignty, shifting from donor dependency toward multiyear, nationally financed health investments, operationalizing the Lusaka agenda, and expanding local manufacturing of diagnostics, medicines, and vaccines.

In related emergency response preparations, The Reporter Ethiopia reported that Ethiopia scheduled a comprehensive health emergency simulation for November 2. The exercise was organized immediately prior to the capital hosting the seventh World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Medical Teams Global Meeting, a three-day event expected to gather nearly 800 participants representing 100 countries.

Separately, state broadcaster EBC reported that Addis Ababa hosted a continental summit dedicated to speeding up early warning mechanisms across Africa.

Diplomatic Stature and Sustainable Urban Development

As the diplomatic headquarters of the African Union and Africa CDC, Addis Ababa regularly serves as a base for continental policy coordination.

Alongside its diplomatic responsibilities, state-affiliated outlet Fana reported that Addis Ababa was selected as one of five recipients of the 2026 Shanghai Award for Global Sustainable Development in Cities. Fana attributed the accolade to urban renewal projects initiated under the Medemer Government, including corridor development efforts that added pedestrian paths, cycling routes, sports facilities, public parks, riverbank environmental upgrades, and integrated residential housing.

Picture: Fana (state-affiliated)

Sources: EBC (state broadcaster), The Reporter Ethiopia, Fana (state-affiliated), cphia.africacdc.org