Triple Burden, One Response: SADC Health Ministers Gather in Johannesburg to Tackle HIV, TB, and Malaria

South Africa will next week host a high-level meeting of health ministers from across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) , as the region confronts the persistent “triple burden” of HIV, tuberculosis, and malariacompounded by rising non-communicable diseases and climate-related health threats.

The two-day summit, scheduled for 23 and 24 February at the Sandton Hotel in Johannesburg, will bring together Ministers of Health and other ministers responsible for HIV and AIDS to review progress on regional health commitments and strengthen collaboration.

The Scale of the Challenge

According to the Department of Health, the numbers are stark:

• The SADC region accounts for at least one-third of all people living with HIV globally.

• Eight SADC member states are among the countries with the highest TB rates.

• About 75% of the population in the region remains at risk of contracting malariaa preventable and treatable disease that continues to claim lives.

Departmental spokesperson Foster Mohale said the meeting comes at a critical time. “The SADC region continues to face a complex burden of disease, including high HIV and TB prevalence, persistent malaria transmission, rising non-communicable diseases and the growing impact of climate-related health risks.”

Beyond the Big Three

The agenda extends beyond infectious diseases. The summit will prioritise improved coordination of disease outbreak responses, particularly strengthening cross-border collaboration and ensuring timely sharing of information during health emergencies.

Other key issues include:

• Ending the TB epidemic in the Southern African region

• Malaria control and elimination strategies

• Implementation of the SADC Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Strategy and Scorecard

• Strengthening the Regional Health Financing Hub

• Assessing the state of healthcare services in correctional facilities

Who Will Be There

Regional health ministers will be joined by representatives from international organisations including the World Health Organization, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNESCO, UNFPA, and UNICEF. The presence of these partners underscores the global significance of the region’s health challenges.

South Africa’s Role

Hosting the summit provides South Africa with an opportunity to reinforce its leadership role in shaping the regional health agenda, building on the diplomatic momentum generated by its hosting of major international engagements in recent years.

What’s at Stake

The outcome of the meeting is expected to influence coordinated policy direction across the bloc, particularly in strengthening health systems and accelerating progress toward epidemic control targets in one of the world’s most heavily burdened regions.

For the millions across Southern Africa living with HIV, at risk of TB, or exposed to malaria, the summit is more than a diplomatic gathering. It is a test of whether regional collaboration can translate into tangible progressand whether the “triple burden” can finally be lifted.

{Source: IOL}

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com