The German Development Cooperation is focused on reducing global poverty, ensuring peace and human security, and preserving the environment in an international framework. Its work is guided by four priority areas in the health sector:

1. Health as a Human Right
The German Development Cooperation’s efforts are guided by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations in 1948:

“Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services (…).”

Germany focuses on global poverty reduction through healthcare treatment as a means to ensuring human rights are upheld. This is pursued through strengthening health systems, investing in prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, mainly HIV/AIDS, and by working towards gender equality as a way of addressing maternity and child issues.

2.Working to Respond to HIV/AIDS
Germany is one of the largest donors to HIV response. Its efforts are concentrated on the prevention and further spreading of HIV. Currently, there are an estimated 34 million people with HIV. Most of these people live in sub-Saharan Africa.

Germany is following the internationally agreed upon goal formed through the United Nations to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS by 2015.

3. Promoting Sexual Health and Making the Most of Population Dynamics
Through various programs, Germany addresses overpopulation concerns by facilitating activities that focus on sex education and HIV prevention, family planning, prenatal and perinatal care, prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, prevention of gender-specific violence, and action to eradicate female genital mutilation.

Furthermore, Germany pledged an additional 400 million euros towards maternal and child health at the G8 summit in Muskoka in 2010.

4. Strengthening Health Systems
The priorities of the German Development Cooperation in regard to establishing health systems involves health policy strategies, trainings, and personnel management. It includes public opinion in decision-making and establishing social protection systems such as health insurance.

Through the persistent work guided by these four goals, Germany continues to combat global poverty with its healthcare measures.

– Caressa Kruth

Sources: Healthy Developments, United Nations
Photo: Wikipedia