Investment in health is an investment in economic development

Abstract

In April 2001, African Heads of State and Government met in Abuja, Nigeria and made a financial commitment towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by pledging to allocate at least 15 per cent of their national budgets to health. At the Kampala Summit in July 2010, the Heads of State committed themselves to taking action to “provide sustainable financing by enhancing domestic resource mobilization, including public-private-partnership and national health insurance so as to meet the 15 per cent Abuja target. This is expected to result in reduction of out-of pocket payments and waiving of user fees, especially for pregnant women and children under five. April 2011 will mark the 10th anniversary of this landmark Abuja commitment.