14 countries pledge $45m to WHO investment round

PUNCH

Fourteen African countries and many partners pledged over $45m to the World Health Organisation’s Investment Round.

The three-month-old initiative aims to generate sustainable financing for the organisation at the centre of the global health architecture.

The commitments were made during the WHO Regional Committee for Africa, with heads of state and government from across the continent underscoring the importance of investing in global health and ensuring a strong WHO.

The countries included Botswana, Cabo Verde, Chad, Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia, Mauritius, Namibia, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, and the United Republic of Tanzania.

Many partners joined member states in making commitments of support to WHO and committing to providing pledges later in the year, including Helmsley Charitable Trust, World Diabetes Foundation, Roche, Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, African Development Bank and the WHO Foundation.

“I thank our African Region Member States for actively supporting WHO’s first Investment Round to mobilize predictable and flexible resources needed for our core work over the next four years.

“Full, sustainable funding will enable WHO to support countries better in their work to build healthier, more resilient, and more prosperous populations,” said WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus.

A statement by the UN body on Tuesday stated that the countries and partners came together for the historic event aimed at sustainably funding WHO and thus enabling it to more effectively fulfil its mandate and advance key objectives to promote, provide and protect health and well-being for all.

“A strong, predictable and sustainably financed WHO is essential for our region and the world to meet the multiple health threats we face; and support the prevention of disease based on the vast evidence at our disposal.

“Every pledge and every partnership counts. Together, we can achieve a future where health and well-being are accessible to all,” said WHO Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti.