Time: 15.00 to 17.00
Venue: MH4
Reporters: Gasengayire Aliane and Mbabazi Jeannette

The Africa leadership Meeting on investing in health events is an Africa-led initiative to boost investments in health on the continent. This initial meeting was held in February on the side lines of the African Union Assembly. It brought together more than 500 people from across the world including Heads of States in Africa, government representative, businesses leaders and global partners to take stock of progress made with domestic (government) investment in health in Africa, and to discuss the challenges that need to be overcome.

The three outcomes from the Africa leadership meeting were the need for the national government to provide sufficient, sustainable and efficient financing for health, solicit for cooperation that can increase resources for health, and tracking and reporting progress.

The Honourable Minister of state in charge of Primary Healthcare, Republic of Rwanda, His Excellency, Mr Filipe Nyusi, President of Mozambique and Honorable Minister of Health, Egypt were present. Others present were the Minister of Health of the Republic of Djibouti, Minister of Finance of Rwanda, the U.S Global AIDS coordinator and the Executive Director of UNAIDS.

Presenters acknowledged that there is strong evidence on the economic benefits of investing in health when funds are used efficiently and equitably. The Lancet Commission on Investing in Health found that investment in health realise returns of up to twenty times the cost of investment. There is also associated human capital development. Wise investments requires that the funds follow the evidence. Investment in HIV is critical at this time as delayed investment will result in high numbers of people living with HIV with implications for increased financing for HIV in the future.