Proceedings of the first African Health Forum: effective partnerships and intersectoral collaborations are critical for attainment of Universal Health Coverage in Africa
Abstract Background Universal Health Coverage (UHC)is central to the health Sustainable Development Goals(SDG). Working towards UHC is a powerful mechanism for achieving the right to health and promoting human development which is a priority area of focus for the World Health Organization WHO. As a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Proceedings |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12919-018-0104-2 |
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| author | Martin Okechukwu C. Ota Doris Gatwiri Kirigia Emil Asamoah-Odei Pamela Suzanne Drameh-Avognon Olushayo Olu Mwelecele Ntuli Malecela Joseph Waogodo Cabore Matshidiso Rebecca Moeti |
| author_facet | Martin Okechukwu C. Ota Doris Gatwiri Kirigia Emil Asamoah-Odei Pamela Suzanne Drameh-Avognon Olushayo Olu Mwelecele Ntuli Malecela Joseph Waogodo Cabore Matshidiso Rebecca Moeti |
| author_sort | Martin Okechukwu C. Ota |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Universal Health Coverage (UHC)is central to the health Sustainable Development Goals(SDG). Working towards UHC is a powerful mechanism for achieving the right to health and promoting human development which is a priority area of focus for the World Health Organization WHO. As a result, the WHO Regional Office for Africa convened the first-ever Africa Health Forum, co- hosted by the government of Rwanda in Kigali in June 2017 with the theme “Putting People First: The Road to Universal Health Coverage in Africa”. The Forum aimed to strengthen and forge new partnerships, align priorities and galvanize commitment to advance the health agenda in Africa in order to attain UHC and the SDGs. This paper reports the proceedings and conclusions of the forum. Methods The forum was attended by over 800 participants. It employed moderated panel and public discussions, and side events with political leaders, policy makers and technicians from ministries of health and finance, United Nations agencies, the private sector, the academia, philanthropic foundations, youth, women and non-governmental organizations drawn from within and outside the Region. Conclusions The commitment to achieve UHC was a collective expression of the belief that all people should have access to the health services they need without risk of financial hardship. The attainment of UHC will require a significant paradigm shift, including development of new partnerships especially public-private partnerships in selected areas with limited government resources, intersectoral collaboration to engage in interventions that affect health but are outside the purview of the ministries in charge of health and identification of public health issues where knowledge gaps exist as research priorities. The deliberations of the Forum culminated into a “Call-to-Action” – Putting People First: The Road to Universal Health Coverage in Africa, which pledged a renewed determination for Member States, in partnership with the private Sector, WHO, other UN Agencies and partners to support the attainment of the SDGs and UHC. There was agreement that immediate action was required to implement the call-to-action, and that the African Regional Office of WHO should develop a plan to rapidly operationalize the outcomes of the meeting. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T01:50:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ab349dc1c2524ae29f696df3990d42b5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1753-6561 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T01:50:17Z |
| publishDate | 2018-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Proceedings |
| spelling | doaj.art-ab349dc1c2524ae29f696df3990d42b52022-12-21T18:42:57ZengBMCBMC Proceedings1753-65612018-07-0112S71810.1186/s12919-018-0104-2Proceedings of the first African Health Forum: effective partnerships and intersectoral collaborations are critical for attainment of Universal Health Coverage in AfricaMartin Okechukwu C. Ota0Doris Gatwiri Kirigia1Emil Asamoah-Odei2Pamela Suzanne Drameh-Avognon3Olushayo Olu4Mwelecele Ntuli Malecela5Joseph Waogodo Cabore6Matshidiso Rebecca Moeti7WHO Regional Office for AfricaWHO Regional Office for AfricaConsultant, Regional Director’s Office, WHO Regional Office for AfricaWHO Regional Office for AfricaWHO Country OfficeWHO Regional Office for AfricaWHO Regional Office for AfricaWHO Regional Office for AfricaAbstract Background Universal Health Coverage (UHC)is central to the health Sustainable Development Goals(SDG). Working towards UHC is a powerful mechanism for achieving the right to health and promoting human development which is a priority area of focus for the World Health Organization WHO. As a result, the WHO Regional Office for Africa convened the first-ever Africa Health Forum, co- hosted by the government of Rwanda in Kigali in June 2017 with the theme “Putting People First: The Road to Universal Health Coverage in Africa”. The Forum aimed to strengthen and forge new partnerships, align priorities and galvanize commitment to advance the health agenda in Africa in order to attain UHC and the SDGs. This paper reports the proceedings and conclusions of the forum. Methods The forum was attended by over 800 participants. It employed moderated panel and public discussions, and side events with political leaders, policy makers and technicians from ministries of health and finance, United Nations agencies, the private sector, the academia, philanthropic foundations, youth, women and non-governmental organizations drawn from within and outside the Region. Conclusions The commitment to achieve UHC was a collective expression of the belief that all people should have access to the health services they need without risk of financial hardship. The attainment of UHC will require a significant paradigm shift, including development of new partnerships especially public-private partnerships in selected areas with limited government resources, intersectoral collaboration to engage in interventions that affect health but are outside the purview of the ministries in charge of health and identification of public health issues where knowledge gaps exist as research priorities. The deliberations of the Forum culminated into a “Call-to-Action” – Putting People First: The Road to Universal Health Coverage in Africa, which pledged a renewed determination for Member States, in partnership with the private Sector, WHO, other UN Agencies and partners to support the attainment of the SDGs and UHC. There was agreement that immediate action was required to implement the call-to-action, and that the African Regional Office of WHO should develop a plan to rapidly operationalize the outcomes of the meeting.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12919-018-0104-2First Africa health forumSustainable development goalsUniversal health coveragePartnershipsIntersectoral collaborationsPrivate sector |
| spellingShingle | Martin Okechukwu C. Ota Doris Gatwiri Kirigia Emil Asamoah-Odei Pamela Suzanne Drameh-Avognon Olushayo Olu Mwelecele Ntuli Malecela Joseph Waogodo Cabore Matshidiso Rebecca Moeti Proceedings of the first African Health Forum: effective partnerships and intersectoral collaborations are critical for attainment of Universal Health Coverage in Africa BMC Proceedings First Africa health forum Sustainable development goals Universal health coverage Partnerships Intersectoral collaborations Private sector |
| title | Proceedings of the first African Health Forum: effective partnerships and intersectoral collaborations are critical for attainment of Universal Health Coverage in Africa |
| title_full | Proceedings of the first African Health Forum: effective partnerships and intersectoral collaborations are critical for attainment of Universal Health Coverage in Africa |
| title_fullStr | Proceedings of the first African Health Forum: effective partnerships and intersectoral collaborations are critical for attainment of Universal Health Coverage in Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Proceedings of the first African Health Forum: effective partnerships and intersectoral collaborations are critical for attainment of Universal Health Coverage in Africa |
| title_short | Proceedings of the first African Health Forum: effective partnerships and intersectoral collaborations are critical for attainment of Universal Health Coverage in Africa |
| title_sort | proceedings of the first african health forum effective partnerships and intersectoral collaborations are critical for attainment of universal health coverage in africa |
| topic | First Africa health forum Sustainable development goals Universal health coverage Partnerships Intersectoral collaborations Private sector |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12919-018-0104-2 |
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