President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania has been officially appointed as the African Union (AU) Champion for reproductive, maternal and child health. This esteemed continental role acknowledges Tanzania's proactive and significant reforms within its health sector. The appointment received endorsement during the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, held in Addis Ababa on Saturday. This decision followed the recommendations outlined in the 2025 report by the Committee of Heads of State and Government overseeing the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

In this critical one-year leadership position, President Samia is tasked with spearheading comprehensive efforts to enhance collaboration and joint action among all AU member states. The overarching aim is to significantly improve reproductive health outcomes, alongside maternal and child health services across the entire African continent. A core objective of her tenure will be to vigorously promote and secure increased sustainable investments from AU member countries into the health sector. This emphasis is rooted in the understanding that access to quality maternal and child health is fundamentally essential for achieving social and economic development, thereby serving as a crucial pillar in the implementation of Africa's ambitious Agenda 2063.

Throughout her term, President Samia will advocate for strong, high-level political leadership across member states. This advocacy will drive the design, implementation, and rigorous monitoring of policies, strategies, and programmes specifically related to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). A key focus will be to ensure that commitments made during various regional and international meetings are translated into tangible, actionable steps, yielding measurable positive outcomes for African citizens. Furthermore, she will be instrumental in fostering a robust system for mutual learning and the sharing of experiences among AU member countries, which will include regular evaluations of progress achieved. This structured approach aims to effectively disseminate best practices, collectively identify common challenges, and accelerate progress towards continental goals, ultimately reducing maternal and child mortality rates and significantly enhancing reproductive health services across Africa.

President Samia will also actively encourage greater investment from diverse stakeholders, including national governments, international development partners, the private sector, and civil society organisations, into maternal and child health services. The goal is to substantially reduce the incidence of deaths and diseases linked to reproductive health, with a particular focus on protecting women, youth, and girls throughout Africa. Through this influential position, Tanzania continues to unequivocally demonstrate its profound commitment to contributing to Africa's broader leadership in establishing resilient and robust health systems that uphold and protect the fundamental right of every woman and child to access high-quality healthcare.