On 26 and 27 April The University of Manchester and Health Education England co-hosted the 5^th East African Health Summit as an online event. Attracting over 200 global participants, panellists from academia, clinical and third sector organisations discussed current healthcare challenges and how, through a partnership approach, resilient healthcare systems can be created for the benefit of all.

Senior Government representatives of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and the UK joined in this two day event. Key themes included the COVID pandemic, comprehensive cancer care in East Africa, maternal health and workforce development through health partnerships between the UK and East African countries. Challenges presented by recent cuts in Official Development Assistance funding (ODA) in carrying out developmental research by UK based academics and their African counterparts were discussed and the participants agreed to work together in challenging them.

Lord Nigel Crisp, Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for global health highlighted the role of greater empowerment of nurses in Africa as a key strategy in addressing key health challenges in the global south in general and sub Saharan Africa in particular. Senior Government representatives representing Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania emphasised the need for equitable partnerships and the investigators from Africa taking ownership for the intellectual and Intellectual Property outputs of such partnerships.

The University of Manchester as part of its Global Social Responsibility agenda has lead the way nationally in being a key link between East Africa and the UK and this virtual conference was the result in bringing this wide range of stakeholders focussing on the health needs of Africa.

Welcoming all the delegates, Professor Graham Lord, Vice president and Dean Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health of the University commented: “Hosting this conference was a great privilege for the University and is in keeping with the University’s core values of prioritising social responsibility as a key function of the Institution”.

The High Commissioners for Kenya HE Manoah Esipisu, the HC for Uganda HE Julius Peter Moto and the HC for Tanzania Prof Asha-Rose Migiro together made a commitment in further enhancing the relationship between the UK and their respective countries using health partnerships as a key strategy.