Category: MIL-OSI

Source: APO

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Rising debt payments are crowding out health spending in Africa’s poorest countries, and out-of-pocket medical costs push 150 million people into poverty every year, the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) warned today at the opening of the 76th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa, held at the Adwa Museum under the theme “Roots and Wings – Heritage Meets Digital Health.”

Speaking on behalf of Executive Secretary Mr Claver Gatete, ECA Chief of Staff Mr Aboubakri Diaw told health ministers that Africa’s health sector “does not only suffer from a financing gap. It also suffers from a confidence gap; and confidence, unlike capital, cannot be borrowed. It must be built.” The session was opened by President Taye Atske Selassie of Ethiopia, joined by AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf and WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Dr Mohamed Yakub Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa,

To make the stakes tangible, Mr Diaw described “Amina,” a composite small-business owner who delays care for fear of its cost, then faces bills that force her to sell equipment and cut jobs. “What began as one person’s illness has become a household financial crisis… and, when repeated across millions of families, a macroeconomic problem,” he said, citing three converging pressures: external health assistance down almost 30 per cent while debt servicing now outpaces health spending in the median low-income country; out-of-pocket payments averaging 35 per cent of health expenditure regionally, above the WHO benchmark of 20 per cent; and national strategies that remain uncosted and unsequenced, making financing harder to attract.

To close that gap, ECA is asking ministers to make three shifts. First, health ministries should bring finance ministries a quantified investment case, not just a request, tied to productivity and growth. Second, countries should replace fragmented plans with one politically endorsed national health-financing compact spanning health, finance, planning, revenue, debt, insurance and private-sector actors, “putting more money into a fragmented system can finance more fragmentation,” Mr Diaw said, whereas “putting money behind a credible national compact can finance transformation.” Third, governments should match financing instruments to their own fiscal starting point; early data from ECA’s adopter countries shows health receiving just 5 to 9 per cent of budgets while out-of-pocket costs can reach 64 per cent of health spending. This work sits under ECA’s African Initiative on Transforming Health Financing, launched in Tangier in April 2026.

Mr Diaw also urged governments to treat digital health as financing infrastructure, noting that fewer than a third of health systems in low-income settings can track spending digitally in real time, a gap he called “among the fastest efficiency gains  that should be met and made available to any treasury.” He cited Ethiopia’s digital health drive under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the AU’s AI and Digital Health Champion, as a model for tracing every Birr or Franc from budget to patient, turning digital health, he said, from “a project” into “a financing revolution.”

Mr Diaw said success would be measured not by declarations but by whether people like Amina can seek care early without losing their livelihoods. “Health is not what we spend when Africa grows. Health is how Africa grows.” ECA said it stands ready to help turn this ambition into financed, measurable action.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

Source: APO – Report:

Kenya has expanded health coverage to more than 32.3 million people as the Government advances reforms aimed at protecting households from high medical costs and ensuring access to healthcare is based on need rather than ability to pay.

Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale highlighted the progress during a high-level ministerial dialogue at the 76th session of the World Health Organization Regional Committee for Africa.

The dialogue brought together African health ministers to examine sustainable approaches to financing healthcare and accelerating Universal Health Coverage across the continent.

Hon. Duale said Kenya’s transition from the National Hospital Insurance Fund to the Social Health Authority is replacing a fragmented and employment-based system with a more inclusive and sustainable model.

Previously, health insurance covered only about a quarter of the population, leaving many farmers, traders, casual workers and vulnerable households to pay for treatment directly. Out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure reached approximately USD 1.2 billion annually, exposing families to financial hardship whenever serious illness occurred.

The reforms have registered more than 32.3 million people, equivalent to approximately 55 per cent of Kenya’s population. Primary healthcare is now funded by the National Government, with more than USD 210 million committed to support services at community and primary-care levels.

The financing framework has supported more than 20 million outpatient visits by 15 million people, over 1.2 million safe deliveries and approximately 500,000 surgical procedures.

Through the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund, more than 50,000 cancer patients and nearly 21,000 people requiring dialysis have also received support.

Digitisation is strengthening transparency and efficiency across the health system. More than 95 per cent of health facilities—6,424 out of 6,727—have been digitised, while SHA has automated registration, pre-authorisation and claims processing.

Hon. Duale called for sustained domestic health financing across Africa, backed by responsive technology, strong political leadership and mutually beneficial international partnerships.

– on behalf of Ministry of Health, Kenya.

Source: APO – Report:

President of the Republic of Seychelles, Dr Patrick Herminie, welcomed Pastor Mrs Foluke Adenike Adeboye, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye and members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) during a courtesy call at State House this morning.

President Herminie welcomed Pastor Adeboye and the RCCG delegation to Seychelles and expressed his appreciation for the work the church is undertaking, particularly in supporting young people. He noted that Seychelles continues to face several challenges affecting the youth and said that spiritual guidance and support can make a positive contribution to society.

Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye highlighted the RCCG’s extensive work with young people, noting that the church currently has more than 1,000 members in Seychelles and a presence in more than 190 countries worldwide. He also spoke about his work as a Christian leader and the recognition he has received for his influence within the Christian community.

During the meeting, Pastor Adeboye outlined several initiatives the RCCG would like to undertake in Seychelles to support communities and contribute to the well-being and development of the country. These include helping single mothers, organising a weekly breakfast initiative for people struggling with drug addiction, and supporting capacity-building programmes for primary and secondary school students.

The discussions focused on opportunities for collaboration between the Government and the RCCG, with both sides expressing a shared commitment to working together to support the people of Seychelles and contribute to a stronger future for the country through spiritual guidance, community engagement and youth development.

Also in attendance was Minister Amanda Birnstein, alongside representatives of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.

– on behalf of State House Seychelles.

Source: APO – Report:

Government is moving to regulate the manufacture, distribution, importation and supply of veterinary medicine, veterinary devices, agricultural chemicals and agricultural chemical application equipment.

The move is embedded in a Bill titled, ‘The Food and Agriculture Regulatory Authority Bill, 2026’ that was tabled by the Minister for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Hon. Frank Tumwebaze on Tuesday, 25 August 2026.

The proposed law that is will be processed by the Committee on Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries seeks to superintend over the surge in counterfeit and substandard veterinary medicines and agricultural chemicals.

Among key provisions in the Bill is the establishment of the Food and Agriculture Regulatory Authority to ensure standard veterinary and agricultural inputs on the market as well as licensing manufacturers and distributors of agricultural chemicals.
“There are high levels of medicines, chemical residues and contaminants such as aflatoxins and heavy metals in our food. The existence of such substances compromises our health and safety, and greatly affects the integrity of our food exports,” reads the Bill in part.

The Bill also states that the continued presence of substandard and counterfeit veterinary and agricultural inputs has resulted into increased pest and disease incidences in the country.

The Bill also seeks to address fragmented regulation for food, feeds, veterinary medicine, veterinary devices, equipment and agricultural chemicals which has resulted in weak and uncoordinated regulation by multiple agencies leading to duplication of efforts, oversight and inefficiencies in enforcement.
“The implementation of the Food and Agriculture Regulatory Authority Act is expected to spur clean agricultural productivity and trade, improve human, plant and animal health leading to consumer safety and confidence, increase market access of Uganda’s agricultural exports to regional and global markets, increase the incomes and profit of food value chain actors and enhance consumer protection against counterfeits,” the Bill is further justified.

The Speaker, Jacob Marksons Oboth referred the Bill to the Committee on Agriculture for processing. 
Rule 135 of the Rules of Procedure prescribes that the committee should process a Bill and report to the House within 45 working days. 

– on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

Source: APO – Report:

Traders operating around the Teya-Teyaneng (TY) taxi rank expressed readiness to relocate to the newly constructed facility, saying the centralization of taxi operations could improve business.

The traders were interviewed by the agency following an inspection of the new taxi rank by The Right Honourable the Prime Minister Ntsokoane Matekane.

A small supermarket owner, Mr Tlotliso Hlaoli, said traders are yet to receive information on how their businesses will operate at the new rank, despite being invited to meetings whenever matters affecting them arise.

He said they are ready to move to the new taxi rank within the next two months but are waiting for clarity on how the trading arrangements will work and whether they will continue operating as they currently do at their individual stalls.

Mr Hlaoli said one of their major challenges has been being removed from the places where they previously operated, which negatively affected their businesses.

He said traders had to start their businesses from scratch because vehicles were operating from different locations, while their businesses heavily depended on passenger traffic.

Mr Hlaoli expressed optimism that the new taxi rank will improve their businesses by bringing passengers and taxis together in one place.

Meanwhile, another trader, Mr Thabo Rantjana, who has operated a business at the taxi rank for 21 years, said he is also ready to move to the new facility, although he is concerned that rental fees could be high depending on the size and quality of the new premises.

He said having all taxis operating from one location would enable traders to attract more customers and increase their income.

Mr Rantjana said business had declined during the construction of the new taxi rank, which posed a major challenge for traders.

He said he is impressed by the appearance of the new facility, adding that it would also help reduce the disorder experienced at the old rank, particularly during rainy weather when mud made the area difficult to operate in.

“The challenge at the new taxi rank will be that we have to start our businesses from scratch, and it will be difficult for our customers to find us, but we believe business will be better than where we are currently operating,” Mr Rantjana said.

The new Teya-Teyaneng taxi rank is expected to bring taxis and traders together in one place. The rank is expected to start operating within the next two months.

– on behalf of Government of Lesotho.

Source: APO – Report:

When schools closed in Chikwawa and many parts of the country, many children left their homes to attend traditional initiation camps, known locally as ku Simba. While these cultural gatherings are an important part of community life, they also presented a challenge for health workers determined to ensure every eligible child received the polio vaccine. 

For Yohane Botha, an initiation leader from Ntsapa in Group Village Bendana, the solution was clear.

“These children deserve to be protected from polio. They should not be left behind because of tradition,” he says. 

As vaccination teams moved through communities during the polio campaign, Botha and other initiation leaders welcomed them into the camps, giving health workers access to children who would otherwise have been difficult to reach. Their willingness to open the doors of the initiation centres ensured that cultural traditions did not become a barrier to essential health services

For Botha, the partnership showed that tradition and health are not competing interests. Instead, they serve the same communities and depend on one another.

“Tradition cannot exist without healthy members of the community,” he explains, noting that traditional leaders often rely on health facilities whenever medical problems arise.

The collaboration proved especially important during the campaign, when many eligible children were living away from home at initiation centres. According to Ebenezer Banda, Chikwawa District’s Expanded Programme on Immunization Coordinator, health workers had to go the extra mile to find and vaccinate children wherever they were even in the thick forest where most of these camps were situated. The support of traditional leaders made that possible. 

“When schools were closed, the teams needed to go an extra mile to reach eligible children who were living in confinement at initiation centres,” Banda says. 

Traditional leaders also played another critical role: helping communities understand the importance of vaccination. Group Village Headman Maseya of Kafere believes that protecting children from polio requires a joint effort between community leaders and the health sector. By listening to community concerns, addressing myths and misconceptions, and encouraging families to trust health advice, traditional leaders can help remove barriers that prevent children from being vaccinated. 

The partnership between traditional leaders and health workers demonstrates that successful vaccination campaigns are built on trust and community participation. By opening their doors to vaccination teams, initiation leaders helped ensure that children were reached regardless of where they were staying. 

The results speak for themselves. Chikwawa achieved reported vaccination coverage of 102 percent, reflecting the collective effort of health workers, traditional leaders, and communities working toward a common goal. 

The experience in Chikwawa offers a powerful lesson: protecting children is a shared responsibility. Tradition and health can coexist, communicate and work together to ensure that cultural practices do not become barriers to essential health services.

By building bridges between traditional institutions and the health system, Chikwawa is showing that when communities open their doors and health workers are willing to go the extra mile, no child has to be left behind—even when they are far from home.

– on behalf of WHO Regional Office for Africa.

Source: APO – Report:

For a long time, Agness Chinkudzu carried a fear that many parents can relate to: the fear of seeing her child fall ill. Living in Kuyenderana Village in Chikwawa, she had watched her child become sick after previous vaccinations and was convinced that vaccination was the cause. The experience left her deeply worried and determined that her child would never receive another vaccine. 

When polio vaccination teams visited her community during successive campaigns, Agness consistently refused. No matter how many health workers came to her home, her answer remained the same. Behind every refusal was a mother trying to protect her child from what she believed could cause harm. 

“I decided that I would never vaccinate my child again,” she recalls. 

But during the most recent campaign, something changed. Despite her hesitation and constant refusal during previous campaigns, the vaccination team did not give up. They reached out to Agness again, this time taking time to listen to her concerns and discuss what families should do when a child becomes unwell following vaccination.

Rather than focusing only on vaccination, the health workers took time to listen. They sat with Agness and allowed her to share her fears and past experiences. For the first time, she felt that someone was hearing her concerns instead of dismissing them. 

The team explained what parents should do if a child becomes unwell after vaccination and why it is important to report any concerns to health workers. They reassured her that health facilities and community health workers are there to investigate symptoms, provide care, and determine whether an illness is related to vaccination or another health condition. 

Meretina Washa, Senior Disease Control Surveillance Assistant, says reporting such incidents is important because it allows health workers to monitor possible vaccine side effects and determine whether the symptoms are related to vaccination or could be caused by other medical conditions.

“Reporting helps us monitor the child and establish what could be causing the problem. It also gives us an opportunity to check the child’s general health and provide the appropriate support,” Washa explains.

According to Washa, continued communication between families and health workers is equally important. When parents report concerns instead of keeping them to themselves, health workers can respond, investigate and provide appropriate guidance.

“This promotes collaboration between the community and health workers for the health and wellbeing of the child,” she says.

For Agness, the conversation brought reassurance and a new perspective. She realized that she did not have to face her fears alone and that support was available if any concerns arose. What began as a discussion about vaccination became a moment of trust, understanding, and partnership between a mother and the health workers serving her community

Her story is a powerful reminder that vaccine refusal is often not rooted in mere unwillingness, but in genuine concern for a child’s wellbeing. Sometimes, changing minds is not about repeating messages. It is about listening with patience, answering questions honestly, and building relationships one conversation at a time. 

However, health workers say not all cases are resolved as easily. Zainub Mtola, a Health Surveillance Assistant serving communities under Mtambanyama Health Centre, says some families have refused vaccination for more than 13 years because of religious beliefs, trusting faith alone to protect their children. To reach these families, health workers often work with traditional leaders, pastors, and relatives who can help create opportunities for dialogue

Mtola says the challenge is balancing respect for individual beliefs with the responsibility to protect children from polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases. In some cases, families agree to vaccination but later avoid the vaccination teams, leaving children unprotected and at risk. These experiences highlight the need for stronger community engagement, ongoing dialogue, and collaboration with traditional and religious leaders to address misconceptions and build confidence in vaccines. 

Today, Agness’s experience offers hope. It shows that when health workers take the time to listen, acknowledge fears, and respond with empathy, trust can be rebuilt. Her journey also reflects a broader lesson for polio eradication efforts: every missed child has a story and understanding that story is often the first step toward ensuring that no child is left behind.

– on behalf of WHO Regional Office for Africa.

Source: APO – Report:

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The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs has raised serious concerns about the financial implications of unforeseen expenditure incurred by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) following the 30 June anti-illegal-immigration protests and the subsequent increase in immigration enforcement, deportations and repatriations.

The committee was informed that the DHA incurred approximately R341 million in expenditure related to the process, while a request for R292 million in unforeseen and unavoidable expenditure has been submitted to National Treasury.

Committee Chairperson Mr Mosa Chabane said the absence of an express guarantee that the expenditure would be reimbursed creates a significant risk that the Department may have to absorb some or all of the costs from its existing baseline. “This is an untenable situation considering the importance of the Department of Home Affairs and its plans to improve services to the population,” said Mr Chabane.

The committee is concerned that, should National Treasury not approve the request, the DHA could be compelled to reprioritise funds away from programmes already contained in its plans. This could result in delays to key milestones and have a direct impact on the Department’s ability to deliver quality services to the public.

The committee has also taken note of the DHA’s efforts to engage with the governments of countries whose nationals have been deported, with a view to securing reimbursement. While welcoming start of these diplomatic engagements, the committee cautioned that such processes are likely to be lengthy and should not become a substitute for sustainable planning and budgeting.

Of particular concern is the fact that the DHA’s annual deportation budget has already been depleted because of the significant increase in deportations and repatriations during this period. The committee believes this highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive strategy to address South Africa’s porous borders.

The committee has called on the DHA, working together with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, to intensify engagements with countries that have significant numbers of nationals in South Africa. These engagements should seek to establish mechanisms through which countries contribute towards the costs associated with the deportation and repatriation of their citizens.

The committee has further urged the DHA’s internal audit component to expedite its examination of expenditure and procurement undertaken during the period in question. All procurement must be subjected to appropriate scrutiny to ensure full compliance with legislation and departmental policies. This will also assist in identifying and resolving any irregularities before the Auditor-General conducts its mandatory audit.

The committee remains concerned that the Standing Committee for Refugee Affairs and the Refugee Appeals Authority of South Africa did not provide all the information requested by the committee about their limitations and challenges in migration management. The failure to provide the information timeously affected the committee’s ability to properly interrogate the issues raised during its oversight process.

The committee will therefore consider the outstanding migration-related matters and the relevant report at a later stage, once the required information has been received. A comprehensive approach to migration management requires all relevant institutions to provide Parliament with complete and timely information.

The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs recommitted to continue to exercise rigorous oversight over the DHA’s expenditure, migration-management processes, border-control measures and deportation programme to ensure that public resources are used efficiently, while protecting the sustainability and quality of services provided to South Africans.

– on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.