News
15pc of national budgets to go to health
Mothers wait for free immunisation service for their babies at the Kangemi Health Clinic in Nairobi. Photo/LIZ MUTHONI
Posted Monday, August 2 2010 at 20:21
“We know the problem of maternal, newborn and child mortality. Infectious diseases can be tamed even in the poorest of countries,” said Rotimi Sankore, coordinator of the African Public Health Alliance.
“Countries like Malawi and Rwanda are making progress in saving the lives of women and children, and improving overall health for their citizens,” she added.
In Rwanda, coverage through social health insurance is providing access to priority health services, including maternal, newborn and child health.
Ministers of health emphasised the need to look at the overall national budgets as an integrated unit and not to merely allocate 15 percent of GDP to health.
“Financing education to extend a medical school in order to increase the number of medical workers is an example of the need to look at the integrated picture,” said Ethiopia’s Minister of Health.
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