14 African countries and many partners have pledged over US$ 45 million to the WHO Investment Round, a three-month-old initiative aimed at generating sustainable financing for the organisation at the centre of the global health architecture.
WHO, in a statement on Wednesday 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 strong global health body.
The countries include: Botswana, Cabo Verde, Chad, Congo, Ethiopia, Mauritius, Namibia, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania and the Gambia.
Many partners joined Members 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, the statement added.
Director-general of WHO, 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.”
WHO regional director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, said “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.”
According to the statement, the WHO Investment Round will continue in the coming months and feature key pledging moments around the world.
