Novo Nordisk brought together around 450 healthcare professionals from over 15 countries across Africa for the Pan-African REACH Summit 2026 in Cairo. Held from 17–19 June, the multi-event platform aimed to strengthen cardiometabolic care and support healthcare systems responding to the growing burden of non-communicable diseases across the continent.
On 17 June, the Africa Digital Opinion Leaders (DOL) Summit brought together digital opinion leaders from across the continent for scientific exchange and practical training in responsible digital storytelling, social media engagement, and patient-centred communication. The sessions highlighted the growing role of digital platforms in strengthening disease awareness and supporting more informed patient dialogue. On the same day, the Africa Sema Rising Star Speaker Training marked the start of the programme, focusing on scientific communication and presentation skills for healthcare professionals. Together, these initiatives were designed to help a new generation of African experts communicate clinical evidence clearly, confidently, and effectively.
The programme culminated on 18–19 June with the Africa Cardiometabolic Summit, the scientific centrepiece of REACH 2026. The summit focused on the evolving management of cardiometabolic diseases, including obesity and type 2 diabetes, and on the need for more integrated, patient centred care. Sessions explored emerging clinical evidence, practical treatment strategies and the challenge of translating new data into routine care across diverse healthcare settings in Africa. The summit also created a platform for multidisciplinary dialogue, reinforcing the importance of earlier intervention, stronger collaboration across specialties and more connected care pathways to improve outcomes for people living with cardiometabolic disease.
“Across Africa, healthcare systems are facing a growing burden from interconnected cardiometabolic diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease,” said Malika de Maillard, Associate Vice President, Novo Nordisk Business Area Africa. “Responding effectively requires a more connected healthcare ecosystem, one that combines scientific evidence, cross specialty collaboration and sustained investment in healthcare professional development. Through the REACH Summit, we aim to support that evolution in care and help equip healthcare professionals to deliver more integrated, evidence-based care for patients across the continent.”
The need for action is urgent. According to the International Diabetes Federation, more than 52 million adults in the region are living with diabetes, and this number is projected to reach 108 million by 2050. Obesity and related cardiometabolic complications are also increasing rapidly, placing additional pressure on healthcare systems and underscoring the need for earlier intervention, integrated care pathways and improved disease awareness. The number of adults living with overweight or obesity is projected to rise from approximately 107 million in 2010 to 263 million by 2030 more than doubling, nearly 2.5 times higher in just two decades.
Dr. Ayman Hassan, General Manager of Novo Nordisk Egypt & Libya added: “Bringing together clinicians, educators and digital health voices on one platform is especially valuable in Africa, where care pathways and resources can vary widely across settings. Meetings like the REACH Summit help translate evolving evidence into practical action and support more coordinated care for people living with cardiometabolic disease.”
The REACH Summit reflects Novo Nordisk’s ongoing commitment to partnering with healthcare communities across Africa to advance scientific knowledge, strengthen capabilities and support more sustainable, patient-centred cardiometabolic care systems.
About Novo Nordisk
Novo Nordisk is a leading global healthcare company founded in 1923 and headquartered in Denmark. Our purpose is to drive change to defeat serious chronic diseases, built upon our heritage in diabetes. We do so by pioneering scientific breakthroughs, expanding access to our medicines, and working to prevent and ultimately cure disease. Novo Nordisk employs about 68,800 people in 80 countries and markets its products in around 170 countries. For more information, visit novo nordisk.com, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube.
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