Two hundred Seventh-day Adventist health professionals from 20 countries in Africa met Aug. 27 to 30 to discuss and share the challenges they face on the continent.

The conference, held at the Kenyan School for Monetary Studies in Nairobi, Kenya, enabled health professionals to exchange ideas and discuss issues faced by organized health work in Africa, as well as by individual health professionals working outside of regular church employment. Students from the Loma Linda University Masters of Public Health program—a satellite course through the University of Eastern Africa, Baraton—along with several sponsors, coordinated the conference.

Delegates voted to organize an Association of Adventist Health Professionals in Africa (AAHPA) and to form chapters in each of the countries represented at the Nairobi meeting, implementing new ideas at the local and national level.

Among objectives of the meeting in Nairobi was to adopt plans for coordinated action and health interventions for HIV/AIDS. Participants were encouraged to consider the implications of this disease for church members and the communities where they live, and to develop new awareness approaches, as well as new ways of addressing the physical, social, and spiritual needs of families affected by HIV/AIDS.

The week ended with the graduation of 60 students from the Loma Linda University Masters of Public Health program, through the University of Eastern Africa, Baraton. The AAHPA also drew tentative plans in arranging for another conference in 2006.