Health ministers from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have urged member governments to secure alternative funding sources to support essential health initiatives, including the prevention, treatment, and management of HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria.
Last week, SADC convened a two-day virtual emergency meeting of health ministers to address pressing health challenges facing the region.
Speaking at a post-cabinet media briefing on Tuesday, Information Minister Jenfan Muswere announced that SADC health ministers had approved key health initiatives to tackle these ongoing challenges.
“Furthermore, member states were urged to mobilize alternative funding through public-private partnerships and domestic resource mobilization for critical health programs, including HIV, TB, and malaria prevention, treatment, and control,” Muswere said.
“The meeting also endorsed the SADC TB Strategic Plan, the expansion of the E8 Malaria Elimination Initiative to all 16 SADC member states under the auspices of SADC, a project to accelerate the implementation and investment in the SADC Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) strategy, the feasibility study on the establishment of a Southern Africa Health Organisation, and the establishment of the SADC Pooled Procurement Services (SPPS) as an Autonomous Special Purpose Vehicle under the principle of subsidiarity,” Muswere added.
This situation arises as the region grapples with funding shortages, exacerbated by past reductions in U.S. foreign aid, notably impacting programs like the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which has been crucial in providing HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention services across more than 50 African nations.
