Case Study — VIP & Delegation Management

Africa Health Business Symposium IV

Ministers, sponsors and official delegations, looked after from arrival to the investor table.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — October 7–9, 2019

The Africa Healthcare Federation Summit and the fourth Africa Health Business Symposium (AHBS IV), curated by Africa Health Business under the theme “Integrating Africa: Bridging the Health Gap”, brought ministers of health, the African Union, WHO, Africa CDC, development partners and private healthcare leaders to Addis Ababa. Sarah Zineb Boumouja, CEO of Global Premium Events, was in charge of the VIP, sponsor and high-level delegations: facilitating their participation, accompanying the official delegations that did not speak English, interpreting for them and helping them present their projects to investors. She also facilitated sessions on stage with the speakers.

Ministers, heads of delegation and healthcare federation leaders on stage at the Africa Healthcare Federation Summit, Addis Ababa, 2019, with Sarah Zineb Boumouja
Heads of delegation and federation leaders — Africa Healthcare Federation Summit, October 7, 2019
Our Role

Sarah Zineb Boumouja managed the relationship with every VIP participant, speaker and sponsor across the three days, and accompanied the official delegations through the summit, the symposium and the side meetings, including H.E. Amira Elfadil, Commissioner for Social Affairs of the African Union.

For French- and Arabic-speaking delegations in an English-language forum, she interpreted in meetings, stayed with them in their talks with investors and helped them present their health projects, so language was never a barrier to a partnership.

On stage, she facilitated the session for the speakers, with Dr. Amit N. Thakker, ministers of health and the leaders of the national healthcare federations.

Sarah Zineb Boumouja accompanying H.E. Amira Elfadil, African Union Commissioner for Social Affairs, and official delegates at AHBS IV, Addis Ababa

Accompanying H.E. Amira Elfadil, African Union Commissioner for Social Affairs, and official delegates — Addis Ababa, October 2019

264
Delegates on the official list
From more than 40 countries, including some 20 ministers and deputy ministers of health and finance, the African Union, WHO and Africa CDC — with every VIP, speaker and sponsor looked after by one point of contact.

What We Delivered

The protocol, language and relationship work that lets high-level delegations take part fully and leave with real conversations behind them.

01VIP, speaker and sponsor relations from invitation to departure
02Participation of ministers and official delegations facilitated
03On-site accompaniment and VIP lounge meetings
04Interpretation for French- and Arabic-speaking delegations
05Investor meetings to promote the delegations’ health projects
06Session facilitation on stage with the speakers

The program the delegations took part in

October 7 · Africa Healthcare Federation Summit

  • — Opening ceremony
  • — Fostering investments through regional integration
  • — Co-creating health systems for fragile and vulnerable settings: government and private sector together
  • — Ministry presentation
  • — Roundup of regional healthcare federations

October 8–9 · AHBS IV

  • — Integrating health in Africa: the role of the private sector
  • — Private sector partnerships for Africa, and leveraging the AfCFTA for supply chains
  • — Integrating investments in health: funders and fundees
  • — Patient-centred healthcare, human resources for health and digital health
  • — Exhibition, networking luncheons and solution showcase
  • — Ethiopian cultural night and gala dinner
High-level delegates meeting in the VIP lounge at AHBS IV, Addis Ababa, with Sarah Zineb Boumouja

Objectives

Our work had three objectives:

  • 01 Give every VIP, speaker and sponsor a smooth, well-run experience
  • 02 Make sure no official delegation was held back by language
  • 03 Turn the delegations’ presence into meetings with investors and partners
Talk to our team
In Their Words
“I was particularly impressed by Sarah Zineb Boumouja’s role in managing communications with VIP participants, speakers, and sponsors. […] Her strategic approach to communication and her meticulous attention to detail greatly contributed to the success of the summits.”

Dr. Michael Rabbow, MD, Dr med, MSc — Ambassador for International Relations, German Health Alliance

On Stage

Facilitating the session for the speakers

Sarah Zineb Boumouja facilitated the session on stage for the speakers, with Dr. Amit N. Thakker, President of the Africa Healthcare Federation, ministers of health and the leaders of the national healthcare federations, on the state of private healthcare across the continent.

Sarah Zineb Boumouja facilitating the session on stage with Dr. Amit N. Thakker, ministers of health and healthcare federation leaders, AHBS IV, Addis Ababa 2019
AHBS IV main stage — Addis Ababa, October 2019

Captured Moments

With ministers, federation leaders and official delegations, before and during the summit.

Sarah Zineb Boumouja walking with H.E. Amira Elfadil, African Union Commissioner for Social Affairs, and official delegates
Official delegationsWith the African Union Commissioner for Social Affairs
Group photo of ministers and healthcare federation leaders at the Africa Healthcare Federation Summit
On stageAfrica Healthcare Federation Summit
High-level delegates meeting in the VIP lounge at AHBS IV
VIP loungeHigh-level meetings between sessions
Sarah Zineb Boumouja with H.E. the Ambassador of Ethiopia to Morocco
Diplomatic relationsWith H.E. the Ambassador of Ethiopia to Morocco

Distinguished Attendees

H.E. Amira Elfadil

Commissioner for Social Affairs

African Union

Dr. Matshidiso Moeti

Regional Director for Africa

World Health Organization

Dr. John N. Nkengasong

Director

Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention

Sarah Zineb Boumouja

Chief Executive Officer

Global Premium Events

Ministers & Heads of Institutions

From the official AHBS IV delegate list: ministries of health and public institutions.

  • Hon. Dr. Amir Aman HagosMinister of Health, Ethiopia
  • Hon. Lia TadesseState Minister of Health, Ethiopia
  • Hon. Ahmed ShideMinister of Finance & Economic Development, Ethiopia
  • Hon. Silvia LutucutaMinister of Health, Angola
  • Hon. Hala ZayedMinister of Health & Population, Egypt
  • Hon. Mohamed Warasama DiriehMinister of Health, Djibouti
  • Hon. Dr. Ahmadou Lamin SamatehMinister of Health, The Gambia
  • Hon. Michel SidibéMinister of Health & Social Affairs, Mali
  • Hon. Dr. Obadiah MoyoMinister of Health, Zimbabwe
  • Hon. Fawziya Abikar NurMinister of Health, Somalia
  • Hon. Harsh VardhanMinister of Health, India
  • Hon. Ashwini Kumar ChoubeyMinister of State for Health, India
  • Hon. Sarah OpendiState Minister for Health, Uganda
  • Hon. Alexander Kodwo AbbanDeputy Minister of Health, Ghana
  • Hon. Julieta KavetunaDeputy Minister of Health, Namibia
  • Hon. Manthabiseng PhohleliDeputy Minister of Health, Lesotho
  • Hon. Josélyne NsanzerugezeAssistant Minister, Ministry of Health, Burundi
  • Hon. Catherine CooperAssistant Minister for Curative Services, Liberia
  • Hon. Dawda CeesayPermanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, The Gambia
  • Hon. Ranaou AbachéSecretary General, Ministry of Health, Niger
  • Dr. Bernard HaufikuSpecial Advisor to the President, Namibia
  • H.E. Catherine MwangiAmbassador of Kenya to Ethiopia
  • Dr. Boureima SamboWHO Representative
  • Ikuo TakizawaDeputy Director General, Human Development Department, JICA
  • Loko AbrahamDirector General, Ethiopian Pharmaceuticals Supply Agency
  • Heran GerbaDirector General, Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority
  • Dr. Amit N. ThakkerPresident, Africa Healthcare Federation
  • Layla SentissiExecutive Director, AMIP, Morocco