Février 24, 2025

SADC Ministers of Health and Ministers responsible for HIV and AIDS holds extraordinary meeting to discuss status of health in the Region

The Committee of Ministers of Health and Ministers Responsible for HIV and AIDS of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) at its meeting held on the 7th November 2024 in Harare, Republic of Zimbabwe, directed the SADC Secretariat to finalise a number of critical matters and documents for adoption. Following this decision, a virtual extraordinary meeting of Ministers of Health and Ministers Responsible for HIV and AIDS was called on 21st  February 2025.

The meeting was preceded by the meeting of the Senior Officials which was convened on the 20th of February 2025 and was chaired by Dr. Aspect Maunganidze, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Chairperson of the Senior Officials of this Committee.

The Ministers meeting held on the 21st of February 2025 was officially opened and chaired by Honourable Dr. Douglas Mombeshora, Minister of Health and Child Care, Republic of Zimbabwe and Chair of the SADC Ministerial Committee on Health. 

In her opening remarks, SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration, Ms. Angéle Makombo N`Tumba indicated that the SADC Ministers responsible for Health are meeting at a crucial time when “our region continues to grapple with the enduring impacts of COVID-19, recurrent outbreaks of cholera, marburg, ebola, Mpox, malaria, and HIV/AIDS, and the escalating threats posed by climate-sensitive diseases. These challenges are compounded by fragmented health systems, inequitable access to medicines, and underinvestment in pandemic preparedness”. She urged Ministers to not only reflect on the health crises the region faces but to also forge a unified path toward resilience and equity. 

The meeting discussed various issues such as the Mpox in the African Region and SADC, the Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) Outbreak in the United Republic of Tanzania, and called for support to the ongoing efforts deployed by the government of the United Republic of Tanzania and International Cooperating Partners to contain the spread of Marburg Virus Disease.  The Ministers also discussed the SADC TB Strategic Plan 2025-2030 and the sustainability of the Malaria Elimination Initiation in the region amongst others. 

Member States were urged to share information on the disease outbreaks with each other in a timely manner, to address cross-border transmissions and continue to implement preventive measures against the outbreaks. Ministers further considered the Report on the Implementation of the SADC Pooled Procurement Services (SPPS), and specifically, the Draft Business Plan establishing the SPPS as an Autonomous Regional Organisation of Subsidiarity.  Subsequently, in approving the Business Plan, Ministers endorsed the establishment of the SADC Pooled Procurement as an organisation of subsidiarity through a Charter and recommended to Council for approval.  Furthermore, Ministers considered the critical needs prevalent in the region particularly shortages of medical products occasioned by limited funding and therefore approved and recommended to Council to endorse the initiation of SADC Pooled Procurement Services under the Group Contracting model in the interim to allow Member States that are willing to jointly negotiate prices of essential medical products and commodities to do so.