Addis Ababa, 31 August 2016- The World Bank and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria on Friday committed to invest US$24 billion for health in Africa over the next three to five years.

The announcement was made in Nairobi ahead of the Tokyo International Conference of Africa's Development demonstrating continued global commitment to achieve Universal Health Coverage by 2030. During the meeting, Kenya also announced US$5 million towards the Global Fund Replenishment.

“More than ever before African countries are increasing investments in health,” said Dr. Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko, the Commissioner for Social Affairs at the African Union Commission. “Global solidarity remains critical in delivering universal health coverage in Africa and the solid support from the World Bank and the Global Fund will go a long way in enhancing strengthened health systems in our countries” he added.

In 2014, African countries spent about US$126 billion of domestic funding for health. An additional US$65 to US$115 billion in domestic funding can be mobilised annually over the next ten years if countries step up efforts. The African leadership has ensured that domestic financing remains the primary source of funding for health and African countries spend on average 20 times more from their own resources than they receive from Official Development Assistance.

Since the Abuja Declaration in 2001, most African governments have increased the proportion of total public expenditure allocated to health. The new African Union Health architecture that includes the Africa Health Strategy, the Catalytic Framework to end AIDS, TB and Malaria in Africa by 2030 and the Maputo Plan of Action places emphasis on domestic health financing as the panacea for strengthened health systems and Universal Health Coverage.

Africa’s health sector however remains underinvested and sustained efforts are needed to achieve the bold and ambitious targets that Africa has set for itself. The African Union continues to keep the domestic health financing agenda high on the political and strategic levels. The African Union Assembly in July this year adopted the Africa Scorecard on Domestic Financing for Health. This is an important milestone in promoting accountability, financial planning, performance monitoring and accountability by players at various levels. The scorecard measures progress towards meeting domestic and external health financing commitments.

During the TICAD Summit, the African Union and partners organised various meetings on advancing Universal Health Access and Community Health Systems Strengthening.

For further information contact

Tawanda Chisango| | AWA Programme Advocacy and Partnerships Expert | African Union Commission |Tel: +263 775 859 316| E-mail: Chisangot@africa-union.org

|www.au.int | Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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