Gallen Africa To Reward Researchers, Innovators In Health Sector

A pan-African group concerned with health, Gallen Africa, is planning to organise an annual forum to reward medical innovators and researchers seeking solutions to Africa’s public health challenges.

President of the Gallen Africa Forum, Prof. Awa Marie Seck, said this during a webinar organised by REMAPSEN, a network of African journalists promoting health and the environment, ahead of the forum’s forthcoming event in Dakar, Senegal.

She stressed that the continent requires innovators to identify ways of tackling health issues exacerbated by environmental problems.

According to Seck,the event which takes place  from October 22 to 25 2024,  “is an initiative for Africans to find solutions to its public health problems linked to environmental issues and climate change.”

Awa Seck, a former Senegalese minister of health, also disclosed that the forum chose this year’s theme, “Health and Community Actions in the Face of Climate and Environmental Crises in Africa,” because of the impact of climate on public health.

She noted that the current Nigerian minister of health, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, is a member of the forum, while some academics from various universities sit on the board.

The Secretary -general of Gallen Africa, Professor Ibrahim Seck, has said that the organisation in collaboration with REMAPSEN will reward researchers and innovators particularly in health and environment in the continent in order to motivate them for more productivity.

Prof, Seck, stressed that the organisation is working on health problems as they affect development in Africa. According to him, he forum, seeks to address Africa public health challenge for Africa and this is why the forum will reward excellent researches and innovations in health like medical technology, pharmaceutical products, digital interventions and vital innovations that have impacted in the public health issues in Africa.

“This award is to spur individual innovators and institution into more works to tackle health problem linked to environmental issue and climate change,” he said, adding that each recipients of the award will get $30,000 USD.

“Africa is a home to health issues linked to environmental problem and climate change.  The impact of climate change and environmental problem in Africa is more. So we Gallen African Forum is concerned about Africa’s problems,” he said.

The first day of the forum on Oct 22 is dedicated for the young people and there are more than 100 youths for capacity building including many students from African countries.

Young innovators, who got to the final of the selection process of the award, will also get between$5,000 and $10,000 USD, which are encouraging prizes for the young innovators.

Also speaking Professor Paul Lalvani, founder and executive director of Empower School of Health and Member of the Prix Galien Jury, urged African journalists to step up partnership with Gallen Africa and other continental bodies for response to African public health problem.