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Minister of Health Joseph Kasonde has underscored government’s commitment to upholding the Abuja agreement which seeks to increase funding to the health sector.
The Abuja agreement was signed in 2001 by African Union member countries in Abuja, Nigeria where they agreed to commit 15 percent of their annual budgets to public health spending.
Dr. Kasonde said this in Lusaka today when UN Goodwill Ambassador for Africa, Yvonne Chaka Chaka paid a courtesy call on him.
He said Zambia was also looking at ways of partnering with the private sector to ensure that access to medical services is enhanced.
He said it was governments desire to ensure that the increase moves at a faster and sustainable pace rather than slow and unsupported.
Dr. Kasonde said this can only be achieved through the promotion and maintenance of donor-recipient kind of relationship.
He added that Zambia was also planning to contribute to the global funds in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Dr. Kasonde said government does not always want to be the recipient of global funds but to also contribute to the worldwide cause.
Meanwhile, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, who is also the founder Princess of Africa Foundation, expressed satisfaction with the high level of infrastructure development Zambia.
Ms. Chaka Chaka said through the improved infrastructure, it was clear that the Zambian government was doing its best in the health and other sectors.
She said infrastructure development plays an important role in combating diseases such as the HIV/AIDS pandemic as well as tuberculosis.
Ms. Chaka Chaka has since appealed to civil society organisations in the country not to criticise government but rather offer solutions to prevailing problems.
The Princess of African Foundation was established in 2006 to complement the work of Yvonne Chaka Chaka as UNICEF and Rollback Malaria Goodwill ambassadors in Africa.
