Europe Announces $189 Million for African Health, and More Than Half Goes to One HIV Programme

The European Commission, the European Union's executive arm, and several member countries have announced about $189 million (€169 million) in health investments in Africa.

More than half of it, about $111 million, is meant for a single HIV programme in Southern Africa.

The Brussels Times reported that the Commission announced the package on Friday 9 October, just ahead of the World Health Summit in Berlin, Germany, held from 11 to 13 October.

The announcement describes it as Team Europe support, meaning the Commission and member countries acting together.

It says the money aims to support health sovereignty, health security and equitable access to health products and services on the continent.

Dr Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the African Union's public health agency, said in April that Africa is working to reduce its dependency by producing, financing and managing more of its own health priorities.