By Sadiq S. Malami
The Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN) commended the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH) and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) for the successful launch of the Parliamentary Network of Champions for Women’s, Children’s, and Adolescents’ Health (WCAH).
The WCAH was unveiled during the 151st Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in Geneva.
Coordinator of AHBN, Dr Aminu Magashi Garba, said the groundbreaking initiative represents a bold commitment to mobilize legislative power in advancing the health, rights, and well-being of women, children, and adolescents worldwide.
“By fostering collaboration, promoting rights-based legislation, and ensuring increased and equitable health financing, the Network sets a new benchmark for parliamentary leadership in health equity,” he said.
AHBN celebrates this visionary step by PMNCH and urges African parliaments to actively engage with the Network, leveraging it as a platform to strengthen national accountability, accelerate implementation of health commitments, and align with the Collaborative Advocacy Action Plan (CAAP).
The Network offers an opportunity for African legislators to champion reforms that close gaps in policy and financing, ensuring that no woman, child, or adolescent is left behind.
AHBN underscores the vital role of parliaments in translating global and regional commitments into tangible outcomes through oversight, budgetary allocation, and legislative advocacy.
“As a leading civil society coalition advancing health accountability across Africa, AHBN reaffirms its commitment to work closely with parliamentary actors, development partners, and civil society organizations to promote inclusive, data-driven, and sustainable policy action for improved WCAH outcomes across the continent,” Dr Magashi added.
