By Sola Ogundipe

In a statement of the key highlights and findings from scorecards and factsheets the Afri-Dev and Africa MNCH Coalition observed that despite recent progress – new HIV infections in SADC alone are still astronomically high at an estimated 812,000 a year (maintaining the sub-regions position as epicentre of the global HIV epidemic) – compared to 21,086 infections for overall current Ebola epidemic.

Issuing the statement in the run-up to the South African Development Community, SADC, Ministers of Health Conference held at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, January 12-15, 2015, the coalition identified poor sexual and reproductive health one of the most significant and still unresolved human security and health governance challenges for SADC especially.

Scorecards

Speaking to the Scorecards on Universal Health, Sexual and Reproductive Health, and HIV, Mr. Rotimi Sankore Editor, Afri-Dev.Info remarked that the new scorecards provide an opportunity to emphasise that poor policy and investment in reproductive and sexual health is still one of the biggest human security and health governance challenges facing Africa as manifested by the current state of HIV in Africa, and SADC especially.”

In a special call to commence urgent multisectoral consultations on due 2015 review and renewal of SADC frameworks on Sexual and Reproductive Health, HIV, Gender & Youth – inclusive of non-state stakeholders and civil society, he noted that with annual HIV deaths in SADC alone running at an estimated 579,400 – compared to 8,289 deaths for the current Ebola epidemic (even allowing for epidemiological differences) – poor sexual and reproductive health and rights is clearly one of the biggest killers of our times (not counting deaths from maternal mortality including high fertility rate/poor family planning; or cervical cancer etc).”

“For instance, new HIV infections in Nigeria estimated at 220,000 annually (2nd only to South Africa globally at 340,000); Uganda at 140,000; Kenya 100,000; and Ethiopia 21,000 – the non-SADC African countries amongst joint top 10 globally with highest new annual HIV infections – demonstrates that African countries collectively need better policy, and domestic investment to improve sexual and reproductive health education and services, and reduce new HIV infections, Sankore pointed out.

HIV mortality

Further, he stated: “Annual HIV mortality in Nigeria estimated at 210,000 – the highest number in any one single country globally – (ahead of South Africa which is second with 200,000); Uganda at 63,000; Kenya 58,000; and Ethiopia 45,000 – the non-SADC African countries amongst joint top 10 globally with highest annual HIV mortality – demonstrates that African countries collectively need better policy, and domestic investment to improve Sexual and Reproductive Health, and reduce HIV deaths.”

With an estimated 14.6 million people living with HIV in SADC alone (the highest number in any single sub-region globally) – and roughly equivalent to the populations of either Malawi, Zambia or Zimbabwe – Improved policy and investment in Sexual and Reproductive Health remains fundamental to Universal Health Coverage, Right to Health, and overall Human Development and Security in the sub region.

For instance, the estimated numbers of People Living with HIV in Nigeria at 3.2 million (2nd only to South Africa with 6.3 million); Kenya, Uganda at 1.6 million each; and Ethiopia 790,000 – the non-SADC African countries amongst top 10 globally with highest numbers living with HIV – demonstrate further that collectively African governments have to invest more in both sexual and reproductive health / HIV prevention and treatment,”he argued.Sexual and Reproductive Health must remain at top of SADC sub-regional and country level human security and health agendas.