Staff Reporter
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has encouraged all African countries to increase investment in maternal health to ensure that all women have access to adequate maternal care, even in deep rural areas.
“I therefore call on all African countries to make efforts within their systems so that no woman should have to face that struggle without skilled care simply because of where she lives or what she earns. Maternal care needs to be established even in deep rural areas of Africa,” the president said.
She made these remarks in New York, USA, at a high-level side event, “She Rises: Advocacy for a New Era – The Women Leading Maternal and Child Health for All”, which took place on the margins of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 81).
The president also highlighted the importance of financing maternal and child health as an investment in nation-building. She said spending on healthcare should not be viewed merely as an expense, but as an investment in human capital, economic resilience, national productivity and Africa’s future.
“African countries must increase domestic investment in maternal health, infrastructure and human capacity to build resilient and sovereign health systems. We therefore call on our development partners to continue working with Africa through sustainable investments that strengthen local capacity and advance quality maternal healthcare for all,” she added.
The president said Namibia is taking steps to strengthen healthcare delivery through the launch of its Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition Strategy 2025–2030, which aims to accelerate progress in these areas.
“By 2030, we intend to increase our Universal Health Coverage Service Coverage Index from 63% to 75%, while reducing maternal mortality from 139 to 60 deaths per 100,000 live births and significantly reducing neonatal and under-five mortality. To accelerate progress towards these targets, Namibia launched the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition Strategy 2025–2030,” President Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
She further noted that Namibia’s national healthcare priorities are aligned with the African Union’s broader health agenda, which promotes stronger domestic resource mobilisation, sustainable health financing, increased investment in primary healthcare and progress towards Universal Health Coverage.
“It also places particular emphasis on preventing maternal and child deaths and strengthening reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health services. Namibia therefore views increased domestic investment in maternal and child health as part of a wider African movement towards greater health sovereignty and African ownership of our development agenda,” President Nandi-Ndaitwah added.
Photo: Namibian Presidency.
