| Issue/Objective |
Energy poverty remains a critical upstream determinant of health inequities across Africa, where over 600 million people lack access to reliable electricity. This structural deficit undermines health system functionality, limiting cold-chain capacity, diagnostic services, and emergency care, while reinforcing preventable disease burdens. Despite growing recognition of social determinants of health, global and regional health frameworks have yet to fully integrate energy governance as a central pillar of health equity. |
| Methodology/Approach |
This study examines how nuclear energy governance particularly the deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) can address systemic barriers to equitable health outcomes. Using a mixed-methods multiple-case study of Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa, the research combines quantitative indicators (electricity reliability, hospital energy access, maternal mortality, and vaccine cold-chain performance) with qualitative insights from healthcare workers, regulators, and community stakeholders. |
| Results |
The findings demonstrate that reliable baseload energy significantly strengthens health system resilience and service delivery. However, the results also highlight that governance capacity, institutional trust, and historical experiences of marginalization are more influential in shaping public acceptance than perceived technological risk. Financing structures, including public-private partnerships and international cooperation, also play a decisive role in determining both the feasibility of SMR deployment and the distribution of health benefits. These dynamics underscore the importance of inclusive and accountable governance frameworks. |
| Discussion/Conclusion |
The study further positions nuclear energy within the broader climate-health nexus, emphasizing its potential to reduce reliance on carbon-intensive energy sources and mitigate pollution-related health risks. In this context, countries such as Canada, with advanced nuclear governance systems and experience in SMR development have a strategic role to play in supporting capacity building, regulatory strengthening, and equitable partnerships in Africa.
This paper argues that nuclear energy governance should be understood as a core component of global health strategy. Addressing upstream determinants through strengthened institutions, sustainable financing, and community-centered approaches is essential to ensuring that Africa's energy transition advances health equity in an increasingly fragmented global landscape. |
| Presenters and Affiliations |
Bernice Karikari Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) |
