MAPUTO, July 13 (Xinhua) -- Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi said here Thursday that investment in the health sector guarantees the present and the future of a nation, as well as social inclusion.
Nyusi made the declaration at the opening of the International Conference on Investment in Health Infrastructure, attended by Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director general of the World Health Organization (WHO).
The WHO official mentioned in his speech that Mozambique will receive vaccines against malaria in the second half of next year.
Currently, Mozambique invests around 30 U.S. dollars in health expenses for each citizen.
President Nyusi said in his speech that investing in health is fighting poverty and socioeconomic inequalities, and he considers it important that national and international partners allocate resources to the health sector to guarantee a healthy society capable of contributing to the country's development.
According to Nyusi, investments in health infrastructure are being made simultaneously with other investments in areas of food and income, training and education, promotion of jobs, transport and energy infrastructure, water supply, and basic sanitation.
Nyusi made an appeal to investors: "Join our efforts and together invest in health infrastructure in Mozambique, with the ultimate goal of providing quality health services to Mozambicans and those who reside in or visit the country."
The Minister of Health of Mozambique Armindo Tiago said in his speech that half of Mozambicans have access to health services. These data place Mozambique with a better performance in relation to countries in the region, although still below the global average, said the minister.
The percentage of Mozambican families that dedicate more than 10 percent of their income or consumption to health (which is called catastrophic expenditure on health) is 1.6 percent, he added.
The International Conference on Investment in Health Infrastructures takes place under the motto "Investing to achieve universal access to health services." Enditem
Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)