Abidjan will host the first edition of the Summit on Investments in Africa’s Health Systems on February 11-12, 2025, looking to mobilise the private sector and funding partners to invest in sports medicine across the continent.
Sports health in Africa remains in its early stages, with a pressing need for adequate infrastructure and qualified professionals. To accelerate the sector’s development, Semen Africa Consulting has launched this summit to attract massive investments and promote the economic viability of sports medicine.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abidjan on Monday, February 3, Dr. Laetitia Makita-Ngadi, the event’s organiser, emphasised the need for a paradigm shift.
“Sports medicine is a niche of opportunities, but we must change our approach,” she stated.
So far, only South Africa and Rwanda have met the African Union’s Abuja Declaration target of allocating 15% of GDP to the health sector. This summit, Dr. Makita-Ngadi noted, seeks to instill a strategic vision through training programs, infrastructure development, technological innovation, and the establishment of sports medicine centers.
With Africa’s young and increasingly active population, demand for sports health services is growing.
Educational campaigns promoting physical activity further fuel this expansion, highlighting long-term market potential.
Dr. Eric Alagban, director of the Sports Medicine Center at the National Institute of Youth and Sports (INJS) in Marcory, Abidjan, welcomed the initiative.
“There is a new vision emerging, and it will undoubtedly yield indirect benefits,” he said.
He also pointed out that sports doctors have often been sidelined in national team staff, emphasising that the summit will be an opportunity to assess the current state of sports medicine and define future prospects for its development in Africa.
Côte d’Ivoire inaugurated its first sports medicine center in 1983 at the INJS. According to Eric Alangba, who assisted Olympic taekwondo champion Cissé Cheick Salah, there are ongoing plans to establish sports medicine centers within major stadiums across the country.
The first Summit on Investments in Africa’s Health Systems will be held under the theme: “Health: A Catalyst for the Sports Industry in Africa.”
It aims to explore investment opportunities in healthcare across the continent.
Africa faces major health challenges, but solutions exist. The private sector presents a significant opportunity to enhance access to higher-quality healthcare services.
With limited public resources, private investment is already playing a crucial role. In Africa, approximately 60% of healthcare funding comes from private sources, while 50% of total health expenditures go to private providers.
The global sports medicine market, valued at $379.74 million in 2024, is expected to reach $408.22 million in 2025. While the Middle East and Africa represent a smaller share, the sector’s potential remains strong, with an estimated 10% growth rate.
AP/sf/lb/as/APA