Agenda 2063, The Africa we want is anchored on seven aspirations with set goals for achieving this vision. Aspiration one is premised on the ambition to have a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development. To achieve this aspiration, one of the key goals for Africa is to have healthy and well-nourished citizens expanding access to quality health care services, particularly for women and girls.
The achievement of the goals enshrined in this aspiration is accelerated by the African Union Department of social affairs divisions of health. The department takes leadership to ensure the implementation of the health objectives in strengthening health systems in Africa through various strategic approaches. Two health divisions under this department; Health, Nutrition and Population and the HIV/AIDs, Malaria, Tuberculosis and Other Infectious Diseases divisions have a mandate of addressing broad health policies on the continent. Through a multi-faced and coordinated approach the two divisions work closely in the harmonisation and coordination of public health and strengthening of health systems including human resources for health, medicines, e-health and traditional medicine as well as population, reproductive health and nutrition issues.
The two health divisions are steered by key continental and global health commitments that aim to ensure proper implementation of continental health policy frameworks. Chief among these is the African Health Strategy (AHS 2016–2030) that advocates for and promotes member states action to prioritize and invest in specific social determinants of health through better inter-sectorial collaboration. The strategy further highlights the central importance of prioritizing health systems strengthening, calls for better leveraging of community strengths, public private and other partnerships as well as recommending a major paradigm shift that helps Member States manage more effectively the risks of disasters in a more systematic manner.
Other policy frameworks from which AHS 2016–2030 reinforces include the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Continental Policy Framework and its revised Maputo Plan of Action 2016–2030, the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan for Africa (PMPA), African Regional Nutrition Strategy 2015–2025 (ARNS), the various AU Abuja commitments aimed at combating AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in Africa, the Catalytic Framework to End AIDS, TB and Eliminate Malaria in Africa by 2030 as well as the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescent’s Health (2016–2030).
The two divisions work in consultation with AU Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), development partners, private sector and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in advocating for the implementation of various continental health strategies. The divisions collaborate in the execution of various health campaigns and in commemorating continental and global health days. Similarly, the two divisions encourage the sharing of sound health practices that can be scaled up at regional and national levels.
The divisions of Health, Nutrition and Population and the HIV/AIDs, Malaria, Tuberculosis and Other Infectious Diseases divisions serve as the Secretariats for the Campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa and AIDS Watch Africa (AWA) respectively.
