STRENGTHENING HEALTH SYSTEMS VITAL – MINISTER

Mon, 04 Sep 2017 12:46:09 +0000

By Annie Zulu

THE World Health Organisation (WHO) Framework for strengthening health systems for universal health coverage in the context of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the African region is timely and strategic, Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya has said.

Dr. Chilufya said the achievement of universal health coverage was a key aspiration of the Zambian Government.

The minister said this in a presentation read on his behalf by Ministry Permanent Secretary-Health Services Jabbin Mulwanda at the panel discussion on the launch of the framework for strengthening health systems for universal coverage and SDGs.

This is at the on-going WHO 67th Regional Commitment Meeting in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

Universal health coverage is when people and communities use the promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative health services they need. The strategic aim of universal health coverage is to ensure that everyone accesses health services they need without risk of financial ruin or impoverishment, despite their socio-economic status.

The over-arching concept of universal health coverage takes a broad view of the services that are needed for good health and well-being.

While momentum is picking to move towards universal health coverage, Dr. Chilufya urged WHO and other partners to ensure coherence in policies and programmes that are put in place, as doing so, will lead to quality health service delivery.

Dr. Chilufya said Zambia would like to see integration of all policies and programmes that work towards attaining universal health coverage in the African region and Zambia in particular.

He said Government would remain committed to achieving universal health coverage and is ready to work with other member States and development partners towards this goal. Meanwhile, Zambia has put measures in place to conduct the first preventive mass yellow fever vaccination campaign because some of the neighboring countries have confirmed cases of the disease.

Government wants to strengthen this core capacity by providing on site yellow fever vaccination at points of entry.

Zambia has not recorded a laboratory confirmed case of yellow fever in the last 50 years. This is according to Zambia’s statement on the framework for implementing the global strategy to eliminate yellow fever epidemics in the African region 2017 – 2026 presented at the on-going WHO 67th Regional Commitment Meeting in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

Nonetheless, Zambia recognises that global demand for yellow fever vaccine far outstrips vaccine supply.

However, Zambia has requested the WHO Secretariat to continue its strong advocacy for increased vaccine production to ensure high vaccine coverage rates are achieved and sustained.