IVORY COAST – The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group has approved its 2022-2030 Strategy for Quality Health Infrastructure in Africa to enhance the quality of life.

The Group is Africa’s premier development finance institution comprising of three distinct entities namely the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF).

It has sites in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan and the Bank contributes to the economic development and social progress of its 54 regional member countries (RMCs).

The Quality Health Infrastructure for Africa strategy sets out three cross-cutting themes namely improved internet and communications technology connectivity, promoting regional collaboration and harmonizing health policies and regulation as well as policy dialogue and technical assistance.

The strategy focuses on three categories of health infrastructure that match the African Development Bank’s comparative advantage of providing the flexibility to respond to the RMCs diverse needs.

The three pillars and crossing cutting themes give the Bank the flexibility to respond to the diverse needs of different regional member countries in a more impactful and sustainable manner,” said Dr. Beth Dunford, the Bank’s Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development.

The strategy was developed in response to a call by the Bank’s Governors for the institution to define its role in addressing Africa’s health infrastructure deficits highlighted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed shortcomings in national health systems in Africa witnessed through overwhelming testing and treatment capacity.

In future, Africa’s growing population will place further strain on infrastructure since health facilities are unevenly distributed with major gaps in rural areas.

As part of its health agenda, the African Development Bank has committed to investing US$3 billion in Africa’s pharmaceutical industry over 10 years.

The Bank also launched a multibillion-dollar COVID-19 Response Facility to support its regional members through the pandemic.

We must give hope to the poor and the vulnerable, by ensuring that every African, regardless of their income level, gets access to quality health care as well as health insurance and social protection,” noted Bank President Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina.

The Strategy was overwhelmingly endorsed via a series of consultations including discussions with health ministers of the Bank’s 54 regional member countries, development partners and civil society.

The approach is in line with one of the African Development Bank’s High 5 strategic priorities namely improving the quality of life for the people of Africa.

It also echoes the objectives of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 regarding good health and well-being as well as the African Union’s Agenda 2063 plan to transform Africa into a global powerhouse.

In addition, it forms part of broader efforts by the African Development Bank to expand access to healthcare on the continent.

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