Story by Abigirl Tembo, Health Editor
THE Southern African Development Community (SADC) Ministers of Health and Ministers responsible for HIV/AIDS convened in Harare, Zimbabwe, this Thursday to tackle the multiple health challenges facing the region.
The meeting aims to review progress, exchange insights, and discuss strategies to strengthen public health issues, including HIV and AIDS.
“As the SADC Secretariat, we acknowledge the multiple health challenges our region continues to face while our health systems recover from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the third time the Health Ministerial Committee meets this year, 2024. Two of the three meetings were emergency meetings convened urgently to find solutions to health emergencies, namely Cholera in January 2024 and Mpox in September 2024,” SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration, Ms Angele N‘tumba Makombo said.
“This is a testament to our commitment to the health system as a whole. This is a testimony of your commitment to responding to the health challenges in the region. As you are all aware, Member States continue to face multiple and concurrent epidemics such as Cholera, Mpox, measles and the threat of Marburg virus disease recently and at the same time, the clock towards 2030 is continuously ticking, reminding us that the commitments we have made to end TB, HIV and malaria as part of the SDG targets.
“ In this year, 2024, the region has also been affected by El Nino-induced droughts and flooding in a number of Member States, exposing our population to food insecurity and malnutrition, especially in children as well as water-borne diseases such as Cholera. Recently, our region has again been affected by another epidemic, Mpox, which led WHO and the Africa CDC to declare a public health emergency of international concern and public health emergency of continental security, respectively.”
Chairperson of the SADC Ministerial Committee on Health, who is also Zimbabwe’s Health and Child Care Minister, Dr Douglas Mombeshora, who officially opened the meeting, emphasised Zimbabwe’s commitment to collaborating with other SADC member states to enhance regional health outcomes
“This meeting brings us together from across the SADC region to review our progress, exchange insights, and discuss strategies to strengthen public health issues including HIV and AIDS Zimbabwe is truly honoured to host the SADC Ministers of Health and Ministers Responsible for HIV and AIDS meeting. Recognising this as a valuable opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to addressing health challenges that impact not only our nation but the entire SADC region.
“This gathering allows Zimbabwe to showcase its on-going efforts in healthcare service delivery including HIV prevention, treatment, and care. Both successes and lessons learned with fellow member states. As a country deeply invested in achieving health equity and reducing the burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases, we value this chance to work alongside regional leaders drawing on our collective expertise and resources to accelerate the development of health care.
“I invite all esteemed ministers to reflect on the critical issues to be discussed during Your guidance and insights are essential as we navigate the complexities of the healthcare landscape in our region coupled with global health threats.”
The meeting marked a crucial step towards strengthening regional health systems and addressing pressing challenges such as anti-microbial resistance and climate change’s impact on health.
