Nairobi, Kenya – The World Health Expo (WHX) Nairobi 2025 opened at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) with a strong call for sustainable leadership, innovation, and investment to strengthen East Africa’s health systems. Themed “Advancing Healthcare and Laboratory Innovation in East Africa,” the three-day event has drawn more than 5,000 delegates, 200 exhibitors, and 65 speakers from over 20 countries.
The opening CEO Panel, moderated by Prof. Salim Hasham of the International Hospital Federation, brought together top executives from leading hospitals, including Aga Khan University Hospital, M.P. Shah Hospital, The Nairobi Hospital, and Kenyatta National Hospital. The leaders underscored the importance of investing in human capital and sustainable governance within healthcare institutions.
“In healthcare, we witness loss every day, yet compassion must never fade. Human sustainability begins when leaders protect the humanity of their teams as fiercely as they protect their patients,” said Dr. Toseef Din of M.P. Shah Hospital.
Dr. Richard Lesiyampe of Kenyatta National Hospital added that building strong leadership pipelines through mentorship and training is key to national health resilience.
Discussions on healthcare investment, led by Dr. Daniel Yumbya of the International Association of Medical Regulatory Authorities, highlighted the need for long-term alignment between policy, education, and funding to sustain health sector growth.
The event also spotlighted women’s leadership through a session by WomenLift Health, themed “Leading the Future: Women Transforming Health Leadership in East Africa.” The session brought together women shaping policy and innovation across the region.
WHX Labs Nairobi ran parallel sessions on laboratory management and diagnostics, with experts from across East Africa emphasizing workforce development and adoption of AI in clinical practice.
Exhibitors such as Randox and Bioline showcased new technologies aimed at expanding diagnostic access and improving surgical outcomes across Kenya.
Day One concluded with a reaffirmation of WHX Nairobi’s mission: to foster collaboration and strengthen healthcare systems in pursuit of Universal Health Coverage across Africa.
Day Two will focus on digital healthcare and artificial intelligence in medicine.