Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) advocating for health in Africa have raised their voices in an effort to influence governments across the continent to increase domestic funding for health care.

The COSs raised their concerns as global health resources continue to dwindle because of the changing political and economic dynamics around the globe.

This happens at a time African governments are dragging their feet in raising domestic resources to finance health care.

Fifteen years ago, African leaders signed the Abuja Declaration and pledged to set a target of allocating 15 per cent of their annual budgets towards the health sector in their respective countries. To date only 26 countries have met the target.

Tanzania’s, national health budget allocation is only 9.3 per cent according to the new 206/17 financial year, far from reaching the Abuja Targets.

According to a representative from the Department of Political and Civil Society Advocacy Department under the Global Fund, Ms Linda Mafu, African governments must prepare for repercussions arising from the major economic transitions.

Ms Mafu was speaking at a two-day meeting held in Nairobi, where CSO representatives from Tanzania, Togo, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia and Malawi convened.