Southern African health ministers have appointed regional champions for climate change and health financing and pledged accelerated action on outbreak preparedness and domestic health investment.
The appointments were made during the 4th Southern Africa Regional Ministerial Steering Committee (ReSCO) Meeting held in Malawi from July 24–25, which brought together senior officials under the theme “One Region, One Health, One Future.”
Zimbabwe’s Health Minister Douglas Mombeshora was named Regional Champion for Climate and Health, while Namibia’s Health Minister Esperance Luvindao was appointed Champion for the Lusaka Agenda on Health Financing.
Zambia’s Health Minister Elijah Muchima – who also chairs the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Governing Board – described the appointments as “a strategic imperative that must drive coordinated action across the continent.”
The appointments of the regional champions acknowledge southern Africa recognition of the urgent link between environmental factors and public health threats, as well as the region’s drive to increase domestic investment in health.
The gathering marked a turning point in regional health diplomacy as leaders committed to translating dialogue into delivery amid mounting climate-related health threats and persistent disease outbreaks.
Africa CDC director general Jean Kaseya said the continent’s “health future must be shaped by African leaders, for African people.”
“To get there, we must ignite a revolution in health financing, one that invests in regional institutions, accelerates local manufacturing and ensures sustainable systems that serve our communities.”
The committee endorsed key recommendations from recent technical advisory meetings, including guidance on implementing the Continental Immunisation Strategy and strengthening community-based outbreak surveillance.
Member states also adopted Africa CDC’s Green Book vision, a continent-wide pact to rethink health governance and service delivery.
Namibia will host the 5th ReSCO Meeting in 2026.
JN/APA