Advocacy, Faith-based Global Health
Consultation Led by CCIH and Partners Captures Global Attention
CCIH partnered with the Africa Christian Health Associations Platform (ACHAP) and the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) to bring together Christian leaders from 10 African countries November 25-27 to address health challenges and seek solutions.
The faith and health leaders came from Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi, Uganda, and Zambia.
At the end of the African Faith & Health Leaders Consultation in Nairobi, Kenya, the religious and FBO leaders crafted a powerful Unity Statement: One Faith, One Voice: A Shared Commitment to Health and Wholeness in Africa.
The statement affirms their resolve to advocate within their own countries for stronger national investment, equitable access to care, and recognition of the vital role faith-based health providers play in serving millions of families.
“Promoting holistic health is a sacred expression of faith and a central calling of the Church… Health is a public trust and a shared responsibility. We urge governments to sustain funding to the front lines of care and to work with all sectors, including faith communities, so that no family is left without essential services.”
-One Faith, One Voice: A Shared Commitment to Health and Wholeness in Africa
Press Conference Attracts Major Media Outlets
The consultation was followed by a press conference held at the AACC offices, which drew significant attention from major national and international media, including the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, Standard Media, Devex, Religion News Service, and more. The coverage helps amplify the message that faith-based organizations are indispensable partners in building strong, community-rooted health systems.
The Devex article noted that U.S. officials are now actively consulting African faith-based networks during bilateral health negotiations, a significant recognition of local capacity and leadership.
CCIH’s Doug Fountain was quoted in the Devex piece, noting that U.S. officials are “going country-to-country to get to know what the faith networks really are, what their capacities are, [and] what their demands are.”
Above photo: Bishop Matthew Kukah, Catholic Church of Nigeria; Mrs. Karen Sichinga, Churches Health Association of Zambia; Reverend Jane N’gang’a, Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network.
Watch the press conference:
CCIH Member Representation
The consultation and the Unity Statement are elevating faith leaders’ voices and strengthening the visibility and influence of the entire Christian health movement. CCIH is helping ensure that local faith-based organizations are not only heard but respected as indispensable partners in national health systems.
See CCIH members speaking at the Press Conference:
- Mrs. Nkatha Njeru, CEO, ACHAP addressed how ACHAP and other faith actors in Africa have been involved in conversations with the US government and the impact of the cuts on healthcare, community programming, and supply chains in Africa.
- Mrs. Karen Sichali Sichinga, Executive Director, Churches Health Association of Zambia, answered questions and discussed how CHAZ has been working with the private sector on financing and with member facilities to help them generate seed funding to support their programs.
- Mr. Peter Maduki, Executive Director, Christian Social Services Commission, addressed how the organization is working with networks in other East African countries on pooled procurement for medical supplies to reduce the costs while maintaining quality, as well as using pooled procurement among Tanzanian health facilities.
- Reverend Jane Ng’ang’a, Policy & Advocacy Advisor, Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network, explained how EPN is working with members to encourage local manufacturing of health supplies in Africa.
CCIH member organizations represented at the press conference include ACHAP, Bureau des Formations Médicales Agréées du Rwanda (BUFMAR), the Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services (CBCHS), the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), the Christian Health Association of Kenya (CHAK), the Christian Health Association of Malawi (CHAM), the Christian Health Association of Nigeria (CHAN), the Christian Social Services Commission (CSSC) (Tanzania), the Churches Health Association of Zambia (CHAZ), Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network (EPN) and the Uganda Protestant Medical Bureau (UPMB).
Photo at top: Mr. Doug Fountain, CCIH: Mrs. Nkatha Njeru, ACHAP; Archbishop Alex Malalusa, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania; Bishop Matthew Kukah, Catholic Church of Nigeria; Ms. Joyce Daphine Khayiyi, AACC Youth Network/Anglican Church of Uganda; Rev. Francis Mkandawire, Evangelical Association of Malawi; and Ms. Ann Kioi, All Africa Conference of Churches.