President John Dramani Mahama has urged African countries to use declining external health financing as an opportunity to build stronger, self-reliant health systems across the continent.
He said governments must increase domestic investment in healthcare, expand local production of medicines and vaccines, and deepen cooperation among African countries to reduce dependence on external support.
President Mahama made the call on Wednesday, July 22, during the second day of the African Union Extraordinary Summit on Health in Accra.
African Heads of State and Government are meeting to consider recommendations developed during the ministerial session held on Tuesday, July 21, as the continent confronts declining and increasingly uncertain external health financing.
The summit is focused on accelerating universal health coverage, ending AIDS and tuberculosis, reducing preventable maternal deaths and tackling communicable and non-communicable diseases.
It is also seeking commitments to strengthen domestic health financing and increase Africa’s capacity to manufacture medicines, vaccines and other health products locally.
The meeting comes amid growing concerns that reductions in external financing could threaten gains made in tackling major diseases.
According to the AU, sustained investments over the past two decades have contributed to a 74% reduction in AIDS-related deaths since 2004, but those gains are increasingly at risk as international funding becomes less predictable.
The Accra summit builds on efforts to shift Africa towards greater ownership and financing of its health systems, with leaders expected to advance the AU’s health priorities through its Roadmap to 2030 and Beyond.
