The African Development Bank (AfDB) has called for increased and more quality investments in Africa’s health sector to achieve universal health coverage and address some of the health challenges currently confronting the continent. According to NAN, AfDB made the call on Saturday on the occasion of World Health Day tagged “Universal Health Coverage: everyone, everywhere”, with the slogan “Health for All”.
The Director of Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development at the African Development Bank, Oley Dibba-Wadda, while speaking said by owning and leading their national Universal Health Coverage agendas, countries can move towards achieving the goal of UHC which focuses on making everyone to be able to access quality health services, where and when they need them without facing financial hardship.
According to him, “Providing Universal Health Coverage through strengthened health systems backed with a sound financing system are clearly fundamental to improving the quality of life for the people of Africa.”
NAN reports that the Bank’s High five development priorities are enablers for achieving public health security in Africa. It disclosed that since the late 1970s, the African Development Bank has invested US $7.2 billion to finance over 220 health operations mainly through its sovereign lending window.
"These projects have a strong focus on increasing access to health care services and saving the lives of people, and contributing to improving the health and well-being of women and children. The Bank’s decentralization policy has brought the institution closer to clients, with social sector experts across the five African regions.
"The Bank also provides technical assistance to governments and the private sector and contributes to knowledge-sharing. Overall, the Bank’s support for the health sector has been catalytic, including selective support to strategic investments which have contributed to improving health outcomes"
Speaking on the achievement of the bank in the health sector he said the Bank was "instrumental in strengthening pandemic preparedness and response efforts across all West African countries, contributing to the timely containment of the Ebola epidemic.
"It was also the first international financial institution to rally support in the fight against Ebola, providing about US $300 million for emergency and post-Ebola recovery programmes in the affected countries, and neighbouring countries. (NAN)
