WINDHOEK – The Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Richard Kamwi, has implored the Chinese government to collaborate with Namibia to strengthen the country’s health systems by channeling resources to the Global Fund Programme.
Kamwi, who made the plea during the first ever Ministerial Forum on China-Africa Health Development on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing highlighted the fact that Namibia is on the verge of eliminating malaria and mother-to-child transmission of HIV and therefore needs to mobilise additional resources in those areas. He invited Huang Xuming, the Governor of the Zhejiang Province in the coastal region of eastern China, to visit Namibia to explore cooperation in the health sector. The meeting was opened officially by Chinese President, Xi Jinping and took place last week Tuesday until Friday and was convened under the theme ‘Priorities of China-Africa Health Cooperation in the New Era’.
Health ministers from China and several African countries, as well as representatives of the African Union (AU), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the World Bank were among those who attended. Kamwi further applauded the Chinese government for assisting Namibia, particularly the Ministry of Health and Social Services through a number of infrastructural developments such as the construction of the Omuthiya hospital, the provision of ambulances and in the area of traditional medicine.
Resolutions made at the meeting include acknowledging the important role of health in social development. “Health is the foundation for comprehensive development of humanity and should be placed at the centre of global social development,” reads the Beijing declaration of the ministerial forum of China-Africa health development.
The meeting also recognised the importance of increasing domestic investment in health from national budgets to promote sustainable health development. “We call for an increase of investment from the international community to actively support and help African countries to achieve their health-related Millennium Development Goals,” reads the Beijing declaration of the ministerial forum of China-Africa health development. The meeting called for the prominent positioning of health and health related issues in the post-2015 sustainable development agenda, including the strengthening of health systems.
In addition, the meeting resolved to develop human resources for health, including the promotion of communication and cooperation between medical institutions in China and Africa; continuation in offering scholarships from China to Africa and establishing cooperation in key clinical disciplines. “Promote cooperation between medical schools and establish collaboration in health education and training and strengthen institutions for management and regulation,” the Beijing declaration further reads.
By Alvine Kapitako