African governments urged to increases domestic investments in health

African governments have been urged to make significant annual increases to their domestic investments in health in order to achieve the 2030 health targets that the continent set for itself.

Happening on the sidelines of the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA), the Africa Leadership meeting brought together Heads of State, First Ladies as well as different stakeholders in the health sector to discuss domestic investment in health.

Statistics show that though Africa accounts for 24% of the world's disease burden, the continent only receives 1% of global health spending.

President Paul Kagame, who once served as the Chairman of the African Union, said that funds must be allocated to programs that work.

African Union Special Envoy on Women Peace and Security Bineta Diop highlighted several action points on domestic investment in health on the continent spearheaded by the African Union Commission.

According to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Jean Pierre Nyemazi, Rwanda is among the countries that has fulfilled its pledge to allocate 15% of its National Budget to the health sector.

Statistics show that 50% of deaths of children under the age of 5 and 70% of people living with HIV are in Africa. More than half of this population lacks access to essential health services.

The continent has given itself a target of ending three epidemics namely; AIDs, TB and Malaria as well as achieving Universal Health Coverage by the year 2030.