Windhoek — MINISTERS of Health of the Southern Africa sub region have committed themselves to working with other sub regions on the continent to integrate sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHH) goals and targets into the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) framework.

They also reaffirmed their commitment to taking the necessary action to speed up the development of relevant policies and to secure the resources for implementation.

This declaration was made on Friday at the end of a three-day conference on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights for the southern Africa sub region, which noted that morbidity and mortality related to SRHR and maternal and infant mortality rates were enormous. It also noted that there was high prevalence of HIV/AIDS and gender inequality as well as violence against women.

It further noted with concern the limited access of adolescents and young adults to SRH services although they carry the burden of sexually transmitted infections, such as HIV/AIDS, sexual abuse and other challenges.

Two ministers of Namibia and Botswana, Dr Libertina Amathila and Professor Sheila Tlou respectively and Zambia's Deputy Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Kapembwa Simbao, appended their signatures to the declaration.

Reading the declaration to the media, Professor Tlou said SADC countries would provide human, material and financial support to all institutions and organisations working to promote SRHR by redoubling the current budget allocation.

They would also work towards realising their commitment to allocate 15 percent of national budgets to health in line with the 2001 Abuja Declaration.

Most African countries, according to Tlou, due to other pressing needs could not afford to spend 15 percent of the national budgets on health alone.

Botswana, she said, allocates 25 percent of the budget to health, but most of it is used for HIV/AIDS.

Although Namibia spends 15 percent of its budget on health, 46 percent, said Amathila, is used for salaries of staff.

The ministers will also scale up efforts to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of reducing maternal mortality by 75 percent and infant mortality rates by two thirds by the year 2015.

The ministers also resolved to appeal to the African Union (AU), SADC and other African Diplomatic Corps for inclusion of SRHR in all agreements entered into for socio economic development.

In order to achieve this, the ministers, said Tlou would implement the recommendation adopted by the experts and also review the report on the implementation of the recommendations on a biannual basis to assess progress made.

Based on this declaration and others from the other sub regions, Commissioner for Social Affairs at the AU, Advocate Bience Gawanas said the AU will develop a Continental Action Plan for Reproductive Health, for coordination of SRHR activities. The plan of action will be reviewed by experts from all the sub regions and presented for consideration and endorsement in October in Gaborone, Botswana.

Opening the ministerial meeting, Prime Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab said for countries in the sub region to eradicate poverty and improve the lives of their citizens, in line with MDG goals, there was a need to adopt new mindsets and workable strategies.

"In this way, we'll be ready for responding to reproductive health challenges more effectively and fighting against the scourge of HIV/AIDS in a form of a united front," said Gurirab.

He noted that SADC governments were aware that economic growth, poverty reduction and healthcare should go hand in hand towards achieving socio development that would also provide for gender mainstreaming, financing of reproductive health and population management tools.

Over 120 participants from southern Africa attended the conference, which was organised by the International Planned Parenthood Federation Africa Region in collaboration with the African Union and the United Nations Population Fund.