Welcoming Address: CEO

Event: Digital Health Conference 2025
Date: 03 – 04 September 2025
Venue: The Innovation Hub

Distinguished international and local guests,
Our partners connecting online,
Representatives from government,
Colleagues from academia,
Healthcare practitioners,
Members of the media,

It is with great pleasure that I officially welcome you all to The Innovation Hub, the innovation agency of the Gauteng Province and a subsidiary of the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency, strategically tasked with driving innovation and entrepreneurship in Gauteng.

We are honoured to host the second Digital Health Africa Conference (DHA-2025), a landmark event that positions The Innovation Hub as the central hub of this multi-city, hybrid gathering spanning Kampala, Uganda, and Berlin, Germany. The Innovation Hub is proud to co-organise this conference through our Bio-economy unit, affirming our commitment to advancing Africa’s healthcare innovation agenda.

Building on the success of last year’s DHA-2024 hosted in Cape Town, this year’s conference focuses on maternal and neonatal health — an urgent priority for our continent. Africa carries a significant burden of maternal and child mortality, and it is here that digital technologies, from telemedicine and precision medicine to artificial intelligence, can be life- changing. By embedding these solutions into our health systems, we have the opportunity to expand access, improve quality of care, and deliver better outcomes for mothers and children.

The Innovation Hub Management Company (SOC) Ltd
1 Mark Shuttleworth Street, The Innovation Hub, Pretoria, 0087
Tel: +27 12 844 0000, www.theinnovationhub.com
Directors: Adv K Maja (Chairperson), Mr L Marincowitz (Deputy Chairperson), Mr L Mbokotho, Ms F Serutha, Mr L Nkuna, Ms L Mvelase, Ms J Mosebi-Koka, Dr B Mpangalasane (Ex-Officio)
A Subsidiary of the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency SOC Ltd

For The Innovation Hub, DHA-2025 speaks directly to our mission: to foster bio-innovation, build meaningful public-private partnerships, and position Gauteng as a leader in health and technology. Hosting this conference allows us to showcase not only our role in advancing innovation, but also the potential of South Africa and the broader continent to shape the global digital health agenda.

Over the course of this conference, we will hear from leading experts, innovators, academics, policymakers, and practitioners. Together, we will explore how to accelerate digital health adoption, address infrastructure and access challenges, and build collaborations that extend beyond borders. This is a platform for dialogue, for learning, and most importantly, for action.

I would like to take this moment to acknowledge our partners in Uganda and Germany, our international and local speakers, and all participants who have joined us both in person and virtually. Your presence reflects a shared commitment to creating a future where healthcare is more accessible, inclusive, and effective.

As we begin, let us keep in mind the true purpose of our work: to ensure that no mother or child is left behind, regardless of geography or circumstance. Together, through innovation and collaboration, we can close the gap and build healthier communities across Africa and the world.

Thank you once again for being here today. I look forward to a productive and inspiring conference.