Southern African Health Ministers Unite to Tackle Climate, Outbreaks, Financing

In a major show of unity and purpose, Health Ministers and senior delegates from ten African Union (AU) Member States in Southern Africa convened in Lilongwe for the 4th Southern Africa Regional Ministerial Steering Committee (ReSCO) Meeting, hosted by the Government of Malawi. The meeting, held from 24 to 25 July 2025, marked a pivotal moment in the region’s efforts to strengthen health financing, climate resilience, and outbreak preparedness amid rising threats to public health systems.

Themed “One Region, One Health, One Future,” the gathering reinforced the AU's regional commitment to collaborative health governance and safeguarding public health in the face of compounding climate and epidemiological challenges.

Opening Ceremony: High-Level Political Commitment

The meeting was officially opened by Hon. Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, Malawi’s Minister of Health, on behalf of Vice President Dr. Michael Biswick Usi, signaling Malawi’s strong political support for regional health integration. The theme echoed a clear message: health cannot be secured in isolation, and a unified regional response is essential.

Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), delivered a stirring keynote address urging African leaders to “ignite a revolution in health financing.” His call emphasized:

• Accelerated investment in regional health institutions

• Expansion of local manufacturing for medical supplies and vaccines

• Sustainable systems that meet Africa’s specific needs

“Africa’s health future must be shaped by African leaders, for African people,” Dr. Kaseya affirmed.

Strategic Priorities and Regional Champions

Throughout the two-day deliberations, ministers aligned on pressing health issues including:

• Climate change and health risk convergence

• Insufficient domestic health financing

• Recurring disease outbreaks and inadequate preparedness

• The need for frontline capacity and resilient community health systems

Several major appointments and declarations emerged from the discussions:

• Hon. Dr. Douglas T. Mombeshora, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Health, was appointed Regional Champion for Climate and Health, recognizing the intersection of environmental crises and health vulnerabilities.

• Hon. Dr. Esperance Luvindao, Namibia’s Minister of Health and Social Services, was named Regional Champion for the Lusaka Agenda on Health Financing, tasked with galvanizing domestic investments in public health.

Key Endorsements and Frameworks

The Committee endorsed several cornerstone frameworks:

1. Southern Africa Region Annual Report (2024–2025) – Documenting progress, challenges, and strategic outlooks for Member States.

2. Recommendations from the 8th Ordinary and 9th Extraordinary ReTAC Meetings – Including actionable steps for:

   • Implementing the Continental Immunisation Strategy (CIS)

   • Enhancing community-based surveillance for disease outbreaks

   • Strengthening regional vaccine cold chains and delivery systems

3. Africa CDC’s “Green Book” Vision – A groundbreaking continent-wide framework that reimagines health governance, financing, and service delivery, with a strong emphasis on country ownership, accountability, and sustainability.

Recognizing Champions of Public Health

A major highlight was the ReSCO Award Ceremony, honouring outstanding leaders for their unwavering dedication to regional public health:

• Dr. Jean Kaseya received recognition for his visionary continental leadership at Africa CDC.

• Dr. Kalumbi Shangula, former Minister of Health of Namibia, and Hon. Sylvia T. Masebo, former Zambian Health Minister, were celebrated for their decades of public service and regional cooperation.

• Dr. Lul P. Riek, Regional Director of the Southern Africa Regional Coordinating Centre (RCC), was commended for operationalising the RCC and advancing regional outbreak response coordination.

These awards served as a powerful reminder that Africa’s health security depends not only on frameworks and funding, but also on the leadership and resolve of public servants on the frontlines.

Roadmap to Action: From Dialogue to Delivery

As the meeting concluded, participating Member States pledged to translate commitments into action. Priority areas identified for immediate implementation include:

• Scaling up the AU’s 2 Million Community Health Workers Initiative

• Operationalizing national budgets under the Lusaka Health Financing Agenda

• Expanding immunization coverage and pandemic readiness tools

• Strengthening health workforce training and deployment systems

Dr. Kaseya reiterated the urgency for all stakeholders — governments, partners, and private sector actors — to invest in resilient health systems, empower health workers, and deliver services that reach every community.

“We need political will, we need financing, and we need African solutions. The time to act is now,” he stated.

Looking Ahead: Namibia to Host ReSCO 2026

Namibia was announced as the host country for the 5th ReSCO Meeting in 2026, a continuation of the momentum built in Lilongwe. The next meeting will evaluate implementation progress and renew commitments toward Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the AU Health Strategy 2016–2030.

With unified political leadership, shared regional vision, and actionable strategies, Southern Africa is poised to strengthen its health security architecture — not only for today’s challenges, but for generations to come.