AFRIHEALTH OPTONET ASSOCIATION (AHOA)
<https://afrihealthcsos.blogspot.com/2024/03/about-afrihealth-optonet-association_15.html>
REPORT SUMMARY FOR THE 2024 UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE (UHC) DAY EVENT ORGANIZED BY AFRIHEALTH OPTONET ASSOCIATION (AHOA) (December/12/2024)
By:
Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje
CEO/Programmes Director
Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA)
QUICK RECAP
Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje from Afrihealth Optonet Association led a Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day event, welcoming participants from various countries to discuss their Country Governments’ roles in ensuring effective healthcare systems. The meeting focused on the challenges faced by different nations in achieving universal health coverage, including lack of funding, limited access to services, and out-of-pocket expenses. Participants shared their perspectives on their countries’ progress and discussed potential solutions, emphasizing the need for government accountability, increased investment in health facilities, and collective action to improve healthcare access and quality.
NEXT STEPS/RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Governments should prioritize effective health care services and welfare of citizens and inhabitants of their respective countries
2. Civil Society Organizations [CSOs] and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) should create more awareness among citizens about their rights to universal health coverage.
3. Government should improve and equip health facilities in both urban and rural areas.
4. There is need to increase salaries and incentives for healthcare workers to motivate them.
5. NGOs and community-based organizations to monitor the utilization of health resources and hold government and leadership accountable.
6. Civil society actors to build collective movements to demand changes in healthcare policies, resource allocation and accountability from governments.
UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE DAY EVENT
The CEO of AHOA and Moderator of this Event Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje highlighted AHOA’s mission to promote and preserve health, including universal health coverage, environment and energy, ecosystem, nutrition, food security, agriculture, governance, gender, democracy, and human rights. The discussion focused on the government’s stewardship role in universal health coverage and the impact of climate change on health systems. Participants were encouraged to introduce themselves, including sharing their work experiences in the health sector.
AFRIHEALTH OPTONET ASSOCIATION MEETING OVERVIEW
The participants were welcomed from various countries including Sey, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and Ethiopia. Collins Uwe from the United Youth Social Symposium for Education Development in Liberia shared his organization’s response to the Ebola outbreak and their support for the government during the crisis. Dr. Adirieje also noted a gap in the introductions, specifically the lack of country information, and encouraged the participants to fill this gap.
UHC DAY: GOVERNMENT’S ROLE IN HEALTHCARE
Participants discussed the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) day, emphasizing the government’s role in ensuring effective leadership and governance for the health system that will deliver the UHC to all. The theme for this year’s UHC day was “Health: It’s on the Government,” highlighting the need for governments to invest in financial protection and reduce out-of-pocket expenditure for healthcare. Participants, including Lindokuhle from Eswatini and Semjidmaa, shared their perspectives on the government’s performance in providing UHC in their respective countries.
TELEMEDICINE PROGRESS AND UNIVERSAL COVERAGE
Semjidmaa discussed the progress of telemedicine services in remote rural areas, highlighting that while some progress has been made, there is still a need for improvement. Participants were requested to estimate the percentage of citizens in their respective countries who are benefiting from universal health coverage without financial hardship. Semjidmaa responded that the coverage is at 63%, but was unable to provide a specific percentage for citizens receiving effective healthcare without out-of-pocket expenses.
UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE CHALLENGES DISCUSSED
The meeting involved discussions about the status of universal health coverage (UHC) in various countries, with participants sharing their countries’ UHC statistics and reasons why citizens were not receiving full benefits. The participants included representatives from Ethiopia, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Coe d’Ivoire, Liberia, and Mongolia. The meeting also included a discussion about the challenges faced by these countries in achieving UHC, such as lack of funding, out-of-pocket expenditures, and limited access to healthcare services. The participants were encouraged to share their thoughts on the reasons behind these challenges.
ADDRESSING HEALTHCARE CHALLENGES IN LIBERIA
The meeting discussed the challenges faced by citizens in accessing quality healthcare services in Liberia and Nigeria. The speakers highlighted the need for government to take a more active role in providing universal health coverage and investing in the health sector. They emphasized that the government’s responsibility is to ensure the well-being and health of its citizens, and that this responsibility is not being fulfilled effectively. The speakers also stressed the urgency of addressing these issues, comparing it to the urgency with which climate change is being treated. They concluded that the government needs to act urgently to provide the basic rights of citizens, including access to good healthcare, education, and other essential services.
GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY AND COLLECTIVE ACTION
Participants discussed the readiness of people to hold government accountable. It was emphasized that it’s the responsibility of informed individuals from CSOs, NGOs, etc. themselves to sensitize the public about their rights and the role of government. Dr. Adirieje also highlighted the need for collective action to ensure government accountability. The discussion concluded with a focus on the urgent actions the government should take to address the current situation, beyond just releasing funds.
IMPROVING HEALTH FACILITIES AND INCREASING SALARIES/WAGES
The meeting also discussed ways to improve health facilities in and out of the country, with a particular emphasis on strengthening existing structures and investing more money in health facilities. Participants emphasized the need to increase the salaries/wages and allowances of health workers to motivate them and to purchase more equipment and train more doctors. The importance of collective action and community-based organizations in raising awareness and demanding government action was also highlighted. The conversation ended with a call for further engagement and the issuance of a statement across the world.
PARTICIPANTS AND COUNTRY DELEGATES:
Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje. Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA), Nigeria
Dr P S Sarma, India.
Dr. Semjidmaa Choijil (PhD), Paycholohical Responsiveness NGO, Mongolia
Dhilla Royantina, S. Psi., M. Psi in ICP, Indonesia
Ndabirinde Anicet, Executive Directory Refugee Life Support Network (R.L.S.N), for Health, Education,
Lindokuhle Sibiya. Youthand Women for Change in Eswatini, Eswatini
Anicet Ndabirinde. Kampala Uganda
Peter Mkandla. Umzingwane AIDS Network, Zimbabwe.
Apostle Ambassador Dr. Abera Adeba JOTTE, Executive Director, AGAR Ethiopia
Jacent Tamale. Uganda’s Little hands go Green/Ekubo, U.S.A/ Uganda
Amb. Collins Urey, Executive Director, United Youth Social Symposium for Education and Development (UYSSED), Liberia
Samuel Humphrey. Youth Advocate Suburban Healthcare Initiatives, Nigeria
rida servas. Taiwan
Joy Chia. Suburbancares Healthcare Initiative, Nigeria
Balqiaz Khan. RIHRDO, Pakistan
Rev. Rockin Mwabanga. Mtende Foundation, Malawi
Affian Job Kouadio Secrétaire général de L’ong Internationale L’écologie Nouvelle Côte D’Ivoire.
Chika Okwuolisa. Executive Director, Brain and Spine Foundation Africa, Nigeria
Bilyaminu Yakubu Abubakar. Youth Action Center For Reproductive Health Initiative (YACRHI), Nigeria
Augustine Nyakatoma. Tanzania
Yemisi Salami. Highly Favoured Women With Disabilities, Lagos, Nigeria
Baron Oron. Uganda
Asad Ullah. Pakistan
ABOUT AFRIHEALTH OPTONET ASSOCIATION (AHOA)
The Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA) is a global-level and community-focused Network/Think-tank of civil society organizations (CSOs) and non-state actors (NSA) on Health, Biodiversity, Climate Actions and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Established in 1997 and incorporated in 2003, the Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA) has teams/chapters in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and 36 States of Nigeria. With more than 2,700 (Two Thousand, Seven Hundred) organizations from 119 (One Hundred and Nineteen) countries as its members, and a Google Group of over 43,000 members globally Health, Climate Change, Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development, AHOA has become a third-sector global player, partner, project/programme developer, implementer, monitor and reporter on the measures needed to achieve and safeguard them.
The Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA) is committed to exploring the nexus between Health (UHC, PHC, HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria, Mpox, Hepatitis, NTDs, Cancers, NCDs, Vaccines, Immunization, Vitamin/Mineral Deficiencies or Hidden Hunger, and COVID-19); Environment, Ecosystems, Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, Conservation, and Climate Change; Nutrition and Food Security; Gender, Democracy, Good Governance, and Human Rights. It is AHOA’s mandate to promote improved/better standards of living for the disadvantaged, at-risk, discriminated, women and girls, discriminated, children/adolescents, older persons, poor, rural, marginalized and other vulnerable populations including Youth (particularly young women and girls), Indigenous Peoples, Persons with albinism, orphans, widows, LGBTQIA+ individuals, Persons with disabilities, Sex workers, Refugees or Migrants, Women living in rural or underserved areas, and Persons living with HIV/AIDS.
AHOA is in Consultative Status at UN ECOSOC, accredited Observer status at UNEP/UNEA, accredited to the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, and approved by the African Development Bank (AfDB). Its application to the UNFCCC is awaiting approval/admission. AHOA is the lead organization and secretariat of the African Network of Civil Society Organizations (ANCSO) and the Global Consortium of Civil Society and Non-State Actors on Climate Change and Conference of Parties (GCSCCC).
Please accept, thankfully, the assurance of my highest regards and consideration.
Health, Empowerment and Sustainable Development,
Uzodinma
Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje, CMC, CMTF, FIMC, FIMS, FNAE, FASI, FSEE, FAHOA
<https://druzoadiriejefoundation.blogspot.com/2024/07/cv-of-dr-uzodinma-adirieje-february-2024.html>
Health Economist; Certified Evaluation and Projects/Programmes Management Consultant; Conferences and Workshops Organizing Expert; Researcher; Health/Development, Climate Change/Biodiversity and Human Rights Advocate; Facilitator/Trainer; Blogger; Writer/Columnist
CEO & Permanent Representative to the United Nations,
Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA) – CSOs Global Network and Think-tank for Health, Climate Actions and Development (Winner of the SDG 3 – Good Health and Wellbeing Champion Award).
<https://afrihealthcsos.blogspot.com/2024/03/about-afrihealth-optonet-association_15.html>
National Coordinator, Civil Society Partnership for Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria (CSP-SDGs Nigeria)
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