Brain Health Research critical for Africa’s children as new consortium builds African scientific capacity

Experts highlighted the need to strengthen brain health research capacity in Africa as they gathered at the Aga Khan University’s Institute for Human Development (IHD) 10th anniversary celebrations, held in Nairobi. The call came during discussions under the theme “Unlocking Human Potential for Optimal Development Across the Lifespan: A Decade of Evidence, Innovation, and Policy Impact,” with stakeholders advocating for increased investment in research, innovation, and evidence-based policy solutions to improve health and development outcomes among children. “Every child deserves the opportunity to grow, learn, and thrive. Yet for many children, circumstances beyond their control prevent them from reaching their full potential. Investments in research allow us to identify effective interventions, understand local realities, and generate the evidence needed to improve child health and development outcomes,” said Professor Amina Abubakar, Director, Institute for Human Development at AKU.