Health experts have urged African leaders to keep their promise of curbing the spread of HIV/Aids by increasing funding of the health sector.
The experts who met in Abuja say the dwindling budgetary allocation to the health sector in African countries is largely responsible for increasing cases of HIV infection in the continent.
They called on African countries to double their efforts in meeting the health care needs of their people.
African leaders had 12 years ago declared their intention to increase funding of the health sector. However health experts have criticised the decreasing funding of the sector in the continent.
Country Director, Aids Healthcare Foundation, Kenya, Dr. Stephen Karau observed that millions die from treatable diseases and appealed to African leaders to arrest the situation.
Other speakers at the event appealed to the government and individuals to pay attention to issues of health through participatory action and country ownership. A former lawmaker, Dr. Wale Okediran explained the role of the parliament in ensuring an increased funding of the health sector.
Members of the African Union met in April 2001 in Abuja and committed themselves to allocating fifteen percent of available budgets to tackle health issues including HIV/Aids and tuberculosis.
But a review by health experts shows that only two countries, Rwanda and South Africa have reached the targets set at the Abuja declaration.