24/02/2026
🩺 🧩 Minister of Health, NERCHA NED, Senior Health Officials at SADC Meeting 🌍
The Honourable Minister of Health Mduduzi Matsebula Mlondi Cotsa, NERCHA NED Dr. Nondumiso Ncube, and Senior Health Officials are attending a Joint meeting of SADC Minsters of Health and Ministers Responsible for HIV and AIDS happening in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Ministers meeting was preceded by a Senior Officials meeting that took place from 22nd to 23rd February 2025. The Ministers’ meeting brings together SADC member states Health Ministers and Ministers for HIV and AIDS to discuss health issues that affect the member states, discuss previous decisions and their implementation, and gain consensus on the way forward on emerging health issues.
On the 23rd of February, the Ministers participated in an event launching the 4th SADC Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Scorecard, which highlighted areas of progress in key health indicators and other health indicators that require additional efforts for SADC member states to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. It is worth mentioning that the SADC member states have shown progress in the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. The Kingdom of Eswatini was found to have performed well in reducing maternal-to-child transmission of HIV, where the rate was 1.3% at the end of 2025, way below the 5% target of 2030. Adolescent birth rate has reduced in 75% of SADC member states, and comprehensive sexuality education (life skills) has also increased, with 12 out of 16 member states implementing it. Despite the progress in these indicators, only one country in the SADC Region has met the SDG target for maternal mortality, while 2 are on track to meet the SDG target, and nine countries, including Eswatini, have significantly improved their maternal mortality rates, but the progress has slowed down and requires accelerated action to meet the 2030 SDG target.
