International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

A government official in Namibia has called for investment in the healthcare sector in Africa to be stepped up.

According to Dr Richard Kamwi, the country's health and social services minister, many nations are falling short on meeting previous pledges regarding healthcare investment, New Era reports.

Women's health and reproductive rights was flagged up as a particular priority.

Indeed, Dr Kamwi said governments must collaborate in a more "proactive and progressive manner" in order to tackle problems relating to this area.

"It is time for Africa to take ownership of priority programmes related to health," he insisted.

Dr Kamwi stated that positive action by governments would encourage its development partners to take similar steps to improve health outcomes across the continent.

The minister was speaking during the Fifth Africa Conference of Sexual Health and Rights, which was attended by representatives of 60 different countries in Africa.

According to figures from the World Health Organization, Namibia spends about 5.9 per cent of its gross domestic product on health.

Posted by David Smith