SADC to discuss declining international donor funding

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is convening at the Durban International Convention Centre in KwaZulu-Natal to address various concerns, with one of the primary topics being the reduction in international donor funding. This decline in funding is creating challenges for governments in Southern Africa to maintain crucial health initiatives, particularly those focused on HIV and TB.

The issue is a central point of discussion during the ongoing regional health meeting at the Durban ICC, attended by representatives from the 16 member states.

Health Department Director-General, Thembisile Xulu, emphasized the importance of collaboration between SADC and Health Finance ministers who convened in Harare in July. They reached an agreement that "we do need to work closer together, and not only to address the fact that we have had a pull-out in terms of development assistance, as we saw at the US and other funders pulling out.

But making sure that we mobilise more domestic investment." However, Xulu also highlighted the emergence of new health emergencies and priorities, such as Ebola, cholera, and other outbreaks, and the need to prepare for these potential health crises.