H.E Samia Suluhu Hassan informed the audience that she was witnessing first-hand the enthusiasm of EAC to drive efforts to promote the rapid technological and digital transformation to support the implementation of health sector interventions and programmes, which is surely a step in the right direction towards the attainment of SDG 3 and universal health coverage. Investing in the health sector and relevant digital technologies are key for a development that EAC needs to pursue more aggressively as a region. There is the need to invest in digital health technology cannot be understated if EAC is to fully implement the sustainable development goals and address all aspects of poverty.

Tanzania understands the importance of digital health and has already embarked in digitizing its healthcare system through the Ministry of Health and several agencies. The approval of the Digital Regional East African Community Health (Digital REACH) strategic plan by the 16th Sectoral Council of Ministers of Health is an important step towards achieving transformation in the sector. Also, I would like to reiterate that effective implementation of this regional initiative depends not only on good coordination from the East African Health Research Commission but also on strong commitments of EAC partners states, development partners and every health sector stakeholder in partner states. EAC development partners should continue their support to the EAHRC, and EAC partner states to implement and coordinate this initiative. EAC partner states have to support the Digital REACH development and work together through digital health technology, reiterating the commitment of the United Republic of Tanzania to take advantage of digital health technology to improve implementation of health sector interventions, with the aim of accelerating attainment of the universal health coverage and SDGs. Although, there is the challenge of a trained workforce skilled in using digital health solutions and the need for proper governance and funding, among others. To overcome this challenge there is a need to take an interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral approach, bringing together all the main actors in the digital health ecosystem such as international organizations, health service institutions, academia, research centres, and public and private industry. In addition to the East African Health and Scientific Conference, the East African Health Research Commission has established new platforms meant to share research findings in the region, to build research capacity and to create a better environment for research on health matters. I would like to congratulate all representatives of EAC partner states in the Commission and the EAHRC Secretariat for these tremendous achievements and encouraged them to keep up the speed and the commitment.

H.E Samia Suluhu Hassan

The Vice President of the United Republic of Tanzania

I am honoured to welcome all participants to the 7th EAHSC and recalled that the EAHSC is a biennial event hosted on a rotational basis by EAC partner states. The conference is convened as part of the regional cooperation in health in line with article 118 of the treaty of establishment of the EAC. EAHSC enhances the ideals of the EAC that are the free movement of people, services and goods. The main theme of the 7th EAHSC is the technology for health systems transformation and attainment of the UN- Sustainable Development Goals. The theme has attracted more than 200 relevant abstracts for the presentation from the region and outside the region which will be presented and discussed during plenaries, parallel and interactive sessions and during symposia. It comes at a time when the region has developed various strategies to incorporate digital technology and solutions into health. However, at the same time the region is cognisant of the fact that there is more to be done both at the national and regional level if the region is to realise the transformational power of digital health. The millennium has presented to the world with intensified health threats such as health threats associated with globalisation, climate change, the resurgence of deadly disease outbreaks, and change of disease patterns. It is therefore imperative that novel and transformative tools are needed in health. Ebola outbreak in west Africa revealed how weak Africa health system still is, and how vulnerable all of the world is, when there is a disease outbreak at any one place of the universe, but more importantly it revealed the compelling need for regional and global joint approaches and the pivotal role that digital technology can play in real-time for an effective control of disease outbreaks. The conference therefore is another opportunity to share experiences and review current strategies for scaling uptake and utilisation of digital health in the entire health sector for better health services and outcome. The East African Health Research Commission, which became operational in 2015 coordinates the East African Health and Scientific Conferences. The 7th EAHSC is the second conference to be organised by the Commission. The audience that during previous conferences, the Commission launches various health-related initiatives; initiatives which are sustainable and have broader socioeconomic impact to EAC. There are seven initiatives that will be launched during the 7th EAHSC. The EAGLES’ Forum was launched on 26th March 2016; the forum allowed government officials, members of parliaments and judiciary system to discuss priority issues in health and gain consensus and collective approach on how to address them. Other initiatives will be launched by Honorable the Vice President of Tanzania: the 10-year Digital REACH Strategic Plan whose mission is to maximise the power of digital health by ensuring the enabling environment and infrastructure, and by implementing scaled, coordinated, transformative, and innovative approaches in heath; the official launch the EA Web Portal on health, which is the official compendium of health information in East Africa; and also thee launch the Young East African Research Scientists’ Forum, which is a forum that mentors the next generation health leaders and scientists. The EAHRC also will launch a book of abstracts on Digital Health in East Africa, a compilation of research and evidence on use of ICT in health in East Africa; the second EAHRC journal called East Africa Science, a journal that promotes science and innovation in East Africa whose editorial team is formed by the YEARS; and the report of the 6th EAHSC, which is comprehensive and provides the necessary details associated with organisation of the EAHSC in general and will be a useful tool for organising future EAHSC conferences. I would like to use this opportunity to thank all who have contributed in many ways to make the event happen, the host nation, the URT through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and EAC and through the Ministry of Health, the EAC partner states, the development partners, private sector, sponsors, health professionals and all stakeholders. Also, I would like to thank Her Excellency the Vice President for joining scientists to mark this important regional integration event.

Prof. Gibson Kibiki

Executive Secretary – EAHRC

The East African Health and Scientific Conference & International Health Exhibition and Trade Fair was approved by the 12th Ordinary Session of the EAC Council of Ministers in the year 2006, to be convened in East Africa and hosted on a rotational basis by the EAC Partner States through their respective National Ministries responsible for EAC Affairs, the Ministry responsible for Health, and other relevant institutions and bodies, and in close collaboration with regional and international health-related NGOs, civil society organizations, individuals, and other stakeholders in the region. The first East African Health and Scientific Conference (EAHSC) was hosted by the Government of the Republic of Uganda, in March 2007 on the theme “Responding to Health Challenges in East Africa”. The second was hosted by the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania in March 2008 on the theme “Addressing poverty and health in East Africa: Challenges to meeting the Millennium Development Goals” and the third was hosted by the Government of the Republic of Kenya in March 2009, on the theme “Climate change, Environment and Health”. The 4th EAHSC was hosted by the Government of the Republic of Rwanda from March 31 to April 2 2013, on the theme “Regional Health Priorities and Opportunities: Evidence for Action in the Changing Global Financial Situation”. The 5th Conference was hosted by the Republic of Uganda from 25th - 27th March 2015 under the theme “Investing in health through strengthening regional health systems, and institutions towards the prevention and control of communicable and non-communicable diseases”. The 6th EAHSC was hosted by the Government of the Republic of Tanzania from March 27th - 29th 2019, on the theme "Technology for Health Systems Transformation and Attainment of the UN- Sustainable Development Goals".