EPN - Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network

18/11/2025

Earlier on, we joined partners at the launch of Antimicrobial Resistance strategic documents and the kick-off of the World Awareness Week 2025 campaigns, at Glee Hotel in Nairobi.

Our common message is 'Act now: protect our present, secure our future'.
Together, we can stop the rise of drug-resistant infections.

18/11/2025

This week, we join colleagues, partners and stakeholders from across the world for the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week.

Join us in this to spread awareness and champion responsible use.
Together, we can stop the rise of drug-resistant infections.

Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future

!

17/11/2025

At EPN, we are committed to strengthening the advocacy skills of our members and faith communities, empowering them to actively influence health policy and practice.
Last week, we facilitated powerful advocacy training sessions in Ghana, led by Rev. Jane Ng’ang’a, EPN's Policy & Advocacy Advisor. These sessions aimed to elevate advocacy within faith-based health systems and encourage faith leaders to take a more active role in advancing health equity.

In a session with Catholic Bishops, Rev. Jane shared practical strategies for engaging on health issues, emphasizing the moral voice faith leaders possess. She encouraged them to view advocacy as a moral imperative, urging them to hold accountable governments, donors, pharmaceutical companies, and other stakeholders impacting their communities. She also stressed the importance of creating advocacy platforms that promote transparency, accountability, and trackable commitments.
Rev. Jane also highlighted the unique influence of faith leaders in convening multi-sectoral dialogues. By engaging government institutions, civil society, and the private sector, faith leaders can drive collaborative solutions to the pressing health challenges their communities face.

Additionally, Rev. Jane led an Advocacy Sensitization session with Catholic Health Board Directors and Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) staff. The session equipped participants with practical tools for engaging in policy discussions and helped them identify key advocacy issues for their future advocacy plans.

We are excited to continue supporting faith-based advocacy efforts and look forward to seeing the positive impact these leaders will have in advancing health equity and social justice within the faith-based health system.

14/11/2025

Diabetes care depends on skilled, compassionate health workers.
Through its training and capacity development programmes, EPN equips healthcare workers with the knowledge and tools to manage chronic diseases effectively.
Empowered health workers mean stronger systems and healthier communities.

10/11/2025

Last week, EPN had the privilege of joining global health leaders in Tunis, Tunisia for the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Forum for Public Procurement of Health Products. The forum brought together experts and partners committed to building equitable, transparent, and sustainable systems that improve access to life-saving medicines for all.

As a faith-based network working to strengthen pharmaceutical systems across Africa, EPN continues to advocate for community-driven solutions, ethical supply chains, and resilient health systems that serve everyone.
Representing EPN was Dr. Diana Ogutu, our East African Community Pooled Procurement (EACPP) and Minilab Network Lead. Dr. Ogutu shared experiences from EPN’s work coordinating pooled procurement mechanisms across faith-based networks. She reflected on how fragmented supply chains and platforms can limit access to essential medicines and emphasized the importance of information sharing among partners for successful coordination. She also highlighted the need to ensure quality assurance of medicines, not just during pooled procurement, but throughout the entire supply chain.
The forum encouraged collaboration, innovation, and alignment across global procurement priorities, all aimed at improving access to affordable and quality health products while supporting local production.

At EPN, we remain committed to working together with our partners to co-create solutions that build a more equitable and sustainable future in healthcare. Together, we can ensure that no one is left behind.

06/11/2025

06/11/2025

30/10/2025

Yesterday, EPN joined key stakeholders at the Local Manufacturing Strategy Validation Meeting held at Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi, marking an important step towards strengthening pharmaceutical and health technology production within the region.

The Ministry of Health, Kenya, through the Directorate of Health Products and Technologies (DHPT), unveiled the Draft Strategy to Enhance Local Manufacturing of Health Products and Technologies (2025–2030), a bold framework aligned with Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the Presidential Directive to locally produce at least 50% of essential health products.

Representing EPN, which is a member of Coalition for Health Research and Development (CHReaD) and Co-Chair of the Innovation and Regulatory Committee, Rev. Jane Ng’ang’a, Policy Advocacy Advisor , emphasized that local manufacturing must translate into equitable access to essential medicines, especially for low-income and marginalized communities.

She highlighted that for locally produced products to compete regionally and globally, the strategy must prioritize quality assurance, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), and regulatory harmonization through frameworks such as the East African Community Medicines Regulatory Harmonization (EAC-MRH) initiative.

Rev. Jane also underscored the importance of anchoring local manufacturing in strong research and development (R&D) systems. Strengthening linkages between research institutions, universities, and industry will be key to driving innovation and ensuring consistent product quality.

EPN remains committed to advancing quality, affordable, and accessible health products across Africa.

hashtag hashtag hashtag hashtag hashtag hashtag

23/10/2025

We’re live!
Our webinar Policy Advocacy 101: A Capacity Building Journey for EPN Members is currently ongoing and you can still join.
Happening now: 2:00–4:30 PM EAT

Click here to register and join us>>>https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/9e3VMF-ERRybfMDNuSVTEg

Let’s amplify the voice of faith-based health systems!

23/10/2025

Happening this afternoon!

The EPN webinar on Policy Advocacy 101: A Capacity Building Journey for EPN Members starts at at 2:00–4:30 PM (EAT), 1:00–3:30 PM (CAT), and 11:00 AM–1:30 PM (GMT).
This session marks the beginning of a new series focused on strengthening the advocacy skills of EPN members to help them influence health policy and practice more effectively.

We shall explore explore strategies for impactful advocacy, learn how to use data and evidence to support their causes, and gain insights into building resilient networks.

Haven’t secured your spot yet?.
Click the link below and register >> https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/9e3VMF-ERRybfMDNuSVTEg

More details: https://www.epnetwork.org/webinar-advocacy-101-a-capacity-building-journey-for-epn-members/

Let’s unite to amplify the voice of faith-based health systems and build stronger advocacy capacity across our network.

14/10/2025

Faith-based health organizations are powerful advocates for better healthcare. They however need the right tools to influence policy and drive change.

On 23 October 2025, we are hosting a webinar under the theme "Policy Advocacy 101: A Capacity Building Journey for EPN Members"
We will explore: Advocacy Planning & Strategy Development, Evidence-Based Advocacy, Resource Mobilization for Advocacy and Effective Communication & Engagement

🗓 Date: 23 October 2025
🕑 Time: 2:00–4:30 PM (EAT)
Registration link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/9e3VMF-ERRybfMDNuSVTEg

Let’s strengthen the advocacy voice of faith-based health systems together!