Africa faces mounting health challenges, leaders from the Great Lakes region have gathered in Lusaka, Zambia for a high-level summit focused on securing urgent funding solutions to improve healthcare systems. With the rise of both infectious and non-communicable diseases, coupled with weak healthcare infrastructure, the need for sustainable financing has never been more critical.
The Great Lakes region, which includes countries such as Rwanda, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burundi, Tanzania, and Zambia, has long struggled with underfunded healthcare systems. These nations are dealing with a double burden of disease—a mix of infectious outbreaks (Ebola, malaria, HIV/AIDS) and the rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases (diabetes, hypertension, and cancer).
Many governments in the region allocate less than 10% of their budgets to healthcare, falling short of the Abuja Declaration, which recommends that African nations dedicate at least 15% of their annual budgets to health. This funding gap has left hospitals understaffed, under-equipped, and overwhelmed, making it difficult to handle both everyday healthcare needs and public health emergencies.
- Funding Gaps and Investment Needs
- Africa’s healthcare systems suffer from chronic underfunding due to limited government allocations, weak economic growth, and external financial dependency.
- Innovative financing models such as public-private partnerships (PPPs), increased taxation for health, and international donor support are being considered.
- Disease Burden and the Need for Strengthened Systems
- The region is battling both infectious diseases like Ebola, malaria, cholera, and HIV/AIDS and a rise in non-communicable diseases due to urbanization and lifestyle changes.
- Many health facilities lack modern equipment, essential medicines, and qualified personnel, making early disease detection and treatment difficult.
- Universal Health Coverage (UHC) & Affordable Healthcare
- Leaders are pushing for affordable and accessible healthcare for all, especially for vulnerable populations such as rural communities and low-income families.
- Discussions include expanding national health insurance programs to cover more people and ensuring essential drugs are subsidized.
- Attracting Global Support and Partnerships
- The summit aims to mobilize international financial institutions, global health organizations (WHO, Global Fund, World Bank), and private investors to channel resources into African healthcare.
- Governments are also looking at strategies such as increasing health taxes on alcohol and tobacco to fund healthcare programs.Without urgent intervention, the health crisis in the Great Lakes region could worsen.