Dear Colleagues,

It is with immense joy and heartfelt pride that I welcome each and every one of you to the 5th African Women’s Health Conference (AWHEC).

As the founder of this empowering initiative, I am deeply honored by your presence and your continued commitment to advancing women’s health—not only across Africa but around the world. Since our inaugural conference, your dedication, passion, and expertise have fueled the momentum behind this vital movement. To reflect on our journey so far, here are the AWHEC events to date, including the upcoming conference:

• 1st AWHEC: 5th – 6th December 2019, Kigali, Rwanda

• 2nd AWHEC: 16th – 17th January 2023, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

• 3rd AWHEC: 19th – 20th January 2024, Kampala, Uganda

• 4th AWHEC: 10th – 11th January 2025, Kampala, Uganda

• 5th AWHEC: 16th – 17th January 2026, Zanzibar, Tanzania

I am truly grateful to share this space with such inspiring changemakers.

AWHEC is more than just a conference. It is a community, a platform, and a call to action. It is where ideas are born, where partnerships take root, and where we collectively rise to meet the complex challenges women face in healthcare. Together, we are shaping a future where every woman—regardless of geography—has access to equitable, respectful, and high-quality care.

Over the course of this gathering, I encourage you to connect, collaborate, and challenge conventional thinking. Share your stories. Ask bold questions. Celebrate progress—and confront the barriers that still exist. Let’s listen deeply, learn continuously, and lead with courage and compassion.

Your voice matters. Your insights matter. And your participation is what makes this conference impactful. I am confident that the conversations and commitments we cultivate here will spark real, sustainable change—within our communities, our health systems, and far beyond.

Thank you for standing with us in this noble mission. Let’s make this a time of inspiration, innovation, and collective transformation.

With heartfelt appreciation,

Nellie Shuri Boma, MD, MPH, CPHQ, CMQ, CPPS, CPHRM
Founder & Conference Chairwoman