AfDB dates Sadc health experts on new infrastructure strategy
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has embarked on a consultative mission to Southern Africa Development Community (Sadc) region to validate its strategy for Quality Health Infrastructure in Africa 2021-2030.
AfDB director for human capital development youth and skills development Dr Martha Phiri, who is leading the mission, said the strategy seeks to support African countries accelerate the development of quality health infrastructure.
She said this would ensure that all citizens receive health services they need without financial hardship.
Phiri said the strategy would also be contributing towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal III (SDG 3)that seeks to promote healthy lives and well-being for all at all ages and the Africa Agenda 2063.
She said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has revealed major deficits in national health systems and related infrastructure across Africa which makes the continent vulnerable to repeated health crises and consequent development reversals.”
Phiri cautioned that this calls for urgent attention if Africa is to make meaningful progress towards socio-economic transformation.
The development of the strategy follows a call by the governors of the bank at their annual meetings in August 2020, in which a request was made to the bank to define its role in addressing Africa’s health infrastructure deficits, drawing on its core expertise in infrastructure development.
Phiri said a detailed study that informed the strategy found that the $4.5 billion in capital expenditure currently made by Africa governments each year is far below the estimated $26 billion in annual investment needed to meet evolving health infrastructure needs over the next decade.
She said: “To address the huge financing gap the bank will support governments to develop well costed national health systems strengthening plans that will promote stronger partnerships among development partners and with the private sector.
“To complement health infrastructure the bank will also support relevant public health reforms and the sharing of knowledge on healthcare coverage and social protection.”
To gather inputs from member countries in Sadc region, the bank has scheduled a number of meetings on the sidelines of the ongoing Sadc Meeting of Ministers of Health and Ministers responsible for HIV and Aids which kicked off in Lilongwe on Monday.
AfDB is expected to consult with Sadc ministers of health, development partners in health sector and non-governmental organisations operating in the health care space, among other key stakeholders.
The consultations are simultaneously taking place this week in Sadc and Ecowas regions, before extending to Central, North and East African regions.
AfDB country manager Macmillan Anyanwu yesterday said the consultations are coming at an opportune time when Malawi has just finalised the preparation of the third Health Sector Strategic Plan and Health Financing Strategy (2022-2028) which align strongly with the bank strategy. “Once approved, Malawi like all African countries stand to benefit from the technical and financial support from the bank for the development of quality health facilities to improve the quality of life of the people in the country,” he said. – GOLIE NYIRENDA
Contributor
