Countries are implementing and monitoring gender-sensitive health programmes, including affordable sexual and reproductive health care services and education for women and girls, and increasing resources for women’s health.

In all countries, health programmes have been designed to include sexual and reproductive health issues such as maternal health and safe motherhood, pre- and post natal care. Effective measures were also taken to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality, unsafe abortions and address harmful traditional practices.

Maternal mortality in Africa remains the highest in the world.

Africa has prioritised addressing HIV and AIDS. According to UNAIDS, the pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa appears to have stabilized, although often at very high levels. In a growing number of countries, adult HIV prevalence appears to be falling (Botswana, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia), while it is rising in Lesotho and Mozambique.

However HIV/AIDS prevalence is consistently higher among females than males, reflecting gender related vulnerability to infection, as well as the effect of age differences between sexual partners.

In some countries, budgets allocated to the health sector are increasing from year to year, whilst in others only a small increase is made, thereby jeopardising the realisation of expected results and rights.

Countries should develop strategies to address the high levels of maternal mortality through improved equity in access and service delivery, especially with respect to emergency obstetric care.

Countries should also address health financing; the shortage of medical personnel and the gender dimension of HIV/AIDS.