14 African Countries Pledge $45m To WHO

14 African countries and many partners have pledged over US$ 45 million to the WHO Investment Round, a three-month-old initiative to generate sustainable financing for the organisation at the centre of the global health architecture.   In a statement yesterday, WHO said the commitments were made during the WHO Regional Committee for Africa, with Member States underscoring the importance of investing in global health and ensuring a robust global health body.

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

The statement added that many partners, 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, joined member states in making commitments of support to WHO and committing to providing pledges later in the year.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “I thank our African Region Member States for actively supporting WHO’s first Investment Round to mobilise 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.”

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WHO regional director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, said, “A robust, 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.”

According to the statement, the WHO Investment Round will continue in the coming months and feature key pledging moments worldwide.