********AHOA Says Faith Leaders Key to Health Literacy, Community Health Outcomes
*********AHOA Boss Commends Religious Leaders On Roles Towards The Improvement of Health Literacy & Driving Positive Health Outcomes
**********””*”AHOA Boss, Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje Tasks Public Health Experts, Professionals, Governments, Policy makers, Community leaders, Other Critical Stakeholders On Stringer Collaboration With CSOs
By Victor Bieni, Abuja
Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje, The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Afrihealth Optonet Association, has said that faith leaders play critical roles in improving health literacy and driving positive health outcomes across African communities as Nigerian born Global Health & Development expert commended Religious Leaders during AHOA’s 8th edition of AHOA’s Life and Health Dialogue Series held recently.
Royal Paradise Media (News Online) learnt this from World renowned Health Economist and Civil Society Leader in a telephone conversation with our reporter today being on Saturday, May 2, 2026 as Uzodinma Adirieje Urges Stronger collaboration between Faith institutions; Religious Leaders, Civil Society Organizations, Public Health experts; Professionals, Governments; Policy makers, Community leaders; Stakeholders and others towards advance in grassroots health interventions.
Speaking to our reporter, Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje stated that the AHOA’s dialogue Session was themed: ‘Health Literacy, Faith Actors and Community Engagement’. He added that the global dialogue session brought together policymakers, religious leaders, health experts, and community stakeholders. Participants called for stronger collaboration between public health professionals, civil society organizations, and faith-based institutions to advance grassroots health interventions across African Continent and Global South.
In the words of AHOA Boss, Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje: “I, AHOA CEO and Programme Director, Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje delivered the Key note address. No doubt, Health literacy remains a fundamental pillar for achieving equitable health outcomes”.
“This is particularly important in regions facing resource constraints and widespread misinformation. Health literacy is no longer a luxury; it is essential for empowering individuals and communities to make informed decisions that safeguard their wellbeing. We should also take note that faith leaders serve as trusted influencers in many African communities. Their guidance often shapes beliefs and behaviors at the grassroots level”.
“Therefore, leveraging these trusted voices can significantly enhance the reach and credibility of public health interventions, including vaccine confidence and maternal and child health. Faith actors have the capacity not only to inform, but also to inspire communities toward collective action for health and wellbeing”.
“Additionally, such engagement can improve community resilience and support climate-resilient health systems. The session explored practical strategies to harness faith networks for preventive health behaviors and access to accurate health information”.
“The dialogue featured expert presentations, moderated discussions, and interactive engagements aimed at generating actionable and context-specific solutions. AHOA as the Organizer of the event believed that the forum is designed to move beyond discussions to tangible outcomes”.
“Expected results included amongst others are: Stronger recognition of faith leaders’ influence in guiding behavioral change and the development of collaborative frameworks for community-driven health interventions”.
“I urged participants to take collective responsibility through inclusive and culturally sensitive approaches. I believe strongly that true health transformation occurs when communities are not passive recipients of information, but active participants in health promotion and disease prevention”.
“The AHOA Life and Health Dialogue Series continues to serve as a key platform for fostering inclusive dialogue and advancing evidence-based solutions across Africa and the Global South”.
“Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje is a Nigerian global health and development expert, health economist, and civil society leader. He is the Chief Executive Officer and Programmes Director of the Afrihealth Optonet Association, a global civil society network and think-tank with over 3,000 member organisations in more than 120 countries. AHOA works at the intersection of health, climate action, and sustainable development”.
“Dr. Adirieje has extensive experience in policy analysis, monitoring and evaluation, and sustainable development practice. He has provided technical leadership for key national and international initiatives, including Nigeria’s National Monitoring and Evaluation Policy and independent evaluations of progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. His work covers health systems strengthening, climate justice advocacy, civil society mobilisation, and evidence-based policy engagement”.
“Dr Uzodinma Adirieje is a respected voice in global development discourse, he convenes the Life and Health Dialogue Series, a platform for advancing policy dialogue on health, climate, and sustainable development across Africa and the Global South. He is a Certified Management Consultant and an advocate for equity-driven development. Dr. Adirieje promotes integrated approaches that link health, environment, and governance to achieve inclusive and sustainable outcomes”.