The Ministries of Finance and Health and Social Services officially opened a regional consultation on sustainable financing for sexual and reproductive health and rights.

The event brought together representatives from 18 African countries.

The three-day workshop aims to discuss strategies for improving budget allocations, strengthening domestic financing and ensuring sustainable funding for sexual and reproductive health and rights.

The Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services, Suzan Ndjaleka, said despite substantial investments, structural challenges remain. 

These include disparities between private and public health financing systems, persistent adolescent pregnancy rates and geographical barriers faced by rural communities.

"We must turn our focus to allocative efficiency, ensuring that every dollar spent yields maximum clinical and social impact. Over the next three days, as you build on the 2024 regional consultation and evaluate the National Financing Action Plans, Namibia urges this gathering to translate policy dialogue into concrete implementation mechanisms."

United Nations Population Fund Resident Representative for Namibia, Erika Goldson, called on the three pillars of government to strengthen investment in sexual and reproductive health and rights.

This, she said, can be done through evidence-based planning and improved budget execution.

"Embed these within national health plans and budget submissions, advocate for sexual and reproductive health and rights projects, and improve budget execution. To the Ministries of Finance, recognise sexual and reproductive health and rights as infrastructure and engage with the Ministries of Health through our budget processes."