Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South, Dr. Kingsley Agyemang, has called on African parliamentarians to enact and enforce laws that address health injustice and bridge the healthcare gap across the continent.
Speaking at the 5th Federation of African Law Students Continental Conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Dr. Agyemang recounted the story of a young mother who walked six kilometres to give birth, only to discover that the nurse on duty had no delivery kit. He described the situation as a tragic reflection of Africa’s deep-rooted healthcare inequality.
The conference brought together students, young lawyers, and policymakers from across Africa to deliberate on how legislation can drive better healthcare systems and protect citizens’ rights.
Addressing the gathering on the theme “Legislating for Health Justice: Advancing Universal Health Coverage in the Pan-African Context,” Dr. Agyemang urged lawmakers to move beyond rhetoric and take bold steps toward enacting legal reforms that make healthcare equitable, accessible, and truly universal.
He further called for a continental framework to harmonize national health laws in line with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the Africa Health Strategy. According to him, achieving health justice across Africa requires collective action and policy alignment among member states.
Some participants at the Addis Ababa conference welcomed Dr. Agyemang’s call, noting that if African leaders and parliamentarians embrace his recommendations, the continent could make significant strides toward achieving universal health coverage.
Dr. Agyemang emphasized that health justice must become Africa’s next great legislative frontier, expressing confidence that with an integrated health system, every citizen—from the remotest village to the largest city—can finally enjoy the right to quality healthcare.
Source: newsghana.com.gh
