Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Global Fund head of Political and civil society Advocacy eternal relations and communications division Linda Mafu has called on African leaders to allocate domestic resources to the health sector and invest in building health systems that respond to existing epidemics and new pandemics.
Ms. Mafu says as heads of state and government meet for the African Union 4th Mid-Year Coordinating summit in Lusaka, there is urgent need for African countries to build resilient and sustainable health systems that are able to respond to the health needs of citizens.
Speaking in a side interview in Lusaka at the ongoing GfAN, seventh global fund replenishment and domestic resource mobilization meeting, an engagement with the Africa civil societies, Ms. Mafu says the global fund is seeking to mobilize at least 18 billion dollars that would go towards saving 20 million lives, cut the death rate from HIV, tuberculosis and malaria by 60 percent and build a healthier and more equitable world.
Ms. Mafu says in order to end HIV, TB and Malaria as public health threats by 2030, there is need to accelerate progress towards universal health coverage, which will require more investment in resilient and sustainable health systems.
Speaking in a separate interview, Zimbabwean lawmaker Fortune Molokele says Africa’s health care systems are in a difficult situation with regards funding towards fighting epidemics such as HIV, TB and Malaria that are ravaging the continent as most countries heavily invest in the security and less in social sectors.
Meanwhile South African impact driver Sibulele Sibaca says in the case of South Africa, over 1,000 girls are infected with HIV every week compared to 99 boys, a situation she says is proof enough that a lot more resources and attention need to go towards adolescent girls and young women.