1. Faith-based organizations like churches own and operate 30-70% of health care facilities in Africa and play a key role in health care delivery, especially in remote areas. However, they are often not integrated into national health systems.
2. The Africa Christian Health Associations' Platform (ACHAP) was created in 2007 to advocate for the needs and interests of faith-based health providers in Africa.
3. ACHAP's upcoming conference will focus on the role of faith-based health services in achieving universal health coverage in Africa and involve discussions on integrating faith-based providers into national reforms.
Presented at “Financial Protection and Improved Access to Health Care: Peer-to-Peer Learning Workshop Finding Solutions to Common Challenges” in Accra, Ghana, February 2016. To learn more, visit: https://www.hfgproject.org/ghana-uhc-workshop
Malawi Mid-Year Review 2014-2015 Health Insurance Reformmohmalawi
Malawi Mid-Year Review 2014-2015
An overview of the discussion at the Expert Panel on Health Insurance
A look at the health sector reforms currently underway in Malawi
Presented at “Financial Protection and Improved Access to Health Care: Peer-to-Peer Learning Workshop Finding Solutions to Common Challenges” in Accra, Ghana, February 2016. To learn more, visit: https://www.hfgproject.org/ghana-uhc-workshop
Malawi Mid-Year Review 2014-2015 Health Insurance Reformmohmalawi
Malawi Mid-Year Review 2014-2015
An overview of the discussion at the Expert Panel on Health Insurance
A look at the health sector reforms currently underway in Malawi
Health Financing in Kenya - The case of Wajir, Mandera, Turkana, Meru and Bun...Omondi Otieno
A brief look into Health Financing in Kenya using 5 demographically diverse rural counties as case studies. The Budget Analysis Study was commissioned by Save the Children (Kenya program) in January 2014, and conducted by Capacities For Health. The study team was led by Omondi Otieno and Dr. Nduta Githae.
Practical concepts and strategies to increase and maintain financial protecti...HFG Project
Presented at “Financial Protection and Improved Access to Health Care: Peer-to-Peer Learning Workshop Finding Solutions to Common Challenges” in Accra, Ghana, February 2016. To learn more, visit: https://www.hfgproject.org/ghana-uhc-workshop
Presented at “Financial Protection and Improved Access to Health Care: Peer-to-Peer Learning Workshop Finding Solutions to Common Challenges” in Accra, Ghana, February 2016. To learn more, visit: https://www.hfgproject.org/ghana-uhc-workshop
Presented at “Financial Protection and Improved Access to Health Care: Peer-to-Peer Learning Workshop Finding Solutions to Common Challenges” in Accra, Ghana, February 2016. To learn more, visit: https://www.hfgproject.org/ghana-uhc-workshop
Essential Package of Health Services and Health Benefit Plans Mapping BriefHFG Project
Many governments are scaling up health benefit plans, such as social health insurance, to increase population health coverage. This brief presents findings from a mapping between the services covered under the country’s prominent health benefit plan(s) to the country’s Essential Package of Health Services. The mapping analyzes the extent to which the plan(s) cover essential services.
Trends in health financing and the private health sector in the middle east a...HFG Project
In the past several decades, countries in the Middle East and North Africa have made significant improvements in developing their health systems and improving the health status of their populations. However, the region continues to face substantial and diverse political, macroeconomic,social, and health challenges. In 2010–2011, the mass uprisings over high unemployment, poverty, and political repression known as the Arab Spring began in several countries. These events led to a wave of social and political upheaval that had enduring repercussions throughout the region. Iraq, Libya, Syria, and Yemen remain embroiled in prolonged violent conflicts. Other countries are more stable but undergoing significant changes and reforms.
To understand current health financing policies and mechanisms, as well as the current role of the private sector in the health systems of the Middle East, the USAID Middle East Regional Bureau commissioned the Sustaining Health Outcomes through the Private Sector (SHOPS) Plus and Health Finance and Governance (HFG) projects to conduct a review of health financing and the private health sector in the 11 low-and middle-income countries in the region, focusing on the years 2008 to 2017.1 The countries included in this analysis are Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, the West Bank and Gaza, and Yemen. This review aims to highlight regional trends and identify gaps in information.
This presentation discusses IHME's research in public financing of health in developing countries, including study design, findings, study limitations, and recommendations for governments and future research.
For more information please visit www.healthmetricsandevaluation.org
MRC/HIVAN KZN AIDS Forum - 30/10/12 - Challenges and Opportunities for HIV/AI...info4africa
This presentation was given on 30/10/12 at the MRC/HIVAN KZN AIDS Forum.
Co-presented by Kwazi Mbatha (CEGAA Researcher/Trainer) and Mlungisi Vila kasi (TAC Community Mobiliser - uMgungundlovu), this talk was facilitated by Judith King (CEGAA Communications and Advocacy Manager).
For more information on CEGAA please visit their website: http://www.cegaa.org/
Early in August, President Trump issued an executive order focused on improving rural health. In response, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is moving forward with a series of assertive measures featured in a formal strategic plan to remedy the significant healthcare challenges of farmers and others living in rural communities. It addresses access to quality care, medical staffing, technology, clinical innovation, reimbursement and sustainability.Read the story and contact John Baresky for further details.
Policy Brief: What Steps Are Countries Taking To Implement Pro-Poor Universal...HFG Project
Universal health coverage (UHC)—ensuring that everyone has access to quality, affordable health services when needed—can be a vehicle for improved equity, health, financial well-being, and economic development. In its 2013 report, Global Health 2035: A World Converging within a Generation, the Commission on Investing in Health made the case that pro-poor pathways towards UHC, which target the poor from the outset, are the most efficient way to achieve both improved health outcomes and increased financial protection (FP). Countries worldwide are now embarking on health system changes to move closer to achieving UHC, often with a clear pro-poor intent.
Much has been written about what steps countries have taken and are currently taking to: (1) set and expand guaranteed services, (2) develop health financing systems to fund guaranteed services and ensure FP, (3) ensure high-quality service availability and delivery, (4) improve governance and management of the health sector, and (5) strengthen other aspects of health systems to move closer to UHC. As background for a meeting on UHC implementation, held at the Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Center, Italy, from 7–9 July 2015, we reviewed this body of literature, and conducted interviews with global UHC implementers and researchers. In this short policy brief, we synthesize the key messages from the literature and interviews.
Health Financing in Kenya - The case of Wajir, Mandera, Turkana, Meru and Bun...Omondi Otieno
A brief look into Health Financing in Kenya using 5 demographically diverse rural counties as case studies. The Budget Analysis Study was commissioned by Save the Children (Kenya program) in January 2014, and conducted by Capacities For Health. The study team was led by Omondi Otieno and Dr. Nduta Githae.
Practical concepts and strategies to increase and maintain financial protecti...HFG Project
Presented at “Financial Protection and Improved Access to Health Care: Peer-to-Peer Learning Workshop Finding Solutions to Common Challenges” in Accra, Ghana, February 2016. To learn more, visit: https://www.hfgproject.org/ghana-uhc-workshop
Presented at “Financial Protection and Improved Access to Health Care: Peer-to-Peer Learning Workshop Finding Solutions to Common Challenges” in Accra, Ghana, February 2016. To learn more, visit: https://www.hfgproject.org/ghana-uhc-workshop
Presented at “Financial Protection and Improved Access to Health Care: Peer-to-Peer Learning Workshop Finding Solutions to Common Challenges” in Accra, Ghana, February 2016. To learn more, visit: https://www.hfgproject.org/ghana-uhc-workshop
Essential Package of Health Services and Health Benefit Plans Mapping BriefHFG Project
Many governments are scaling up health benefit plans, such as social health insurance, to increase population health coverage. This brief presents findings from a mapping between the services covered under the country’s prominent health benefit plan(s) to the country’s Essential Package of Health Services. The mapping analyzes the extent to which the plan(s) cover essential services.
Trends in health financing and the private health sector in the middle east a...HFG Project
In the past several decades, countries in the Middle East and North Africa have made significant improvements in developing their health systems and improving the health status of their populations. However, the region continues to face substantial and diverse political, macroeconomic,social, and health challenges. In 2010–2011, the mass uprisings over high unemployment, poverty, and political repression known as the Arab Spring began in several countries. These events led to a wave of social and political upheaval that had enduring repercussions throughout the region. Iraq, Libya, Syria, and Yemen remain embroiled in prolonged violent conflicts. Other countries are more stable but undergoing significant changes and reforms.
To understand current health financing policies and mechanisms, as well as the current role of the private sector in the health systems of the Middle East, the USAID Middle East Regional Bureau commissioned the Sustaining Health Outcomes through the Private Sector (SHOPS) Plus and Health Finance and Governance (HFG) projects to conduct a review of health financing and the private health sector in the 11 low-and middle-income countries in the region, focusing on the years 2008 to 2017.1 The countries included in this analysis are Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, the West Bank and Gaza, and Yemen. This review aims to highlight regional trends and identify gaps in information.
This presentation discusses IHME's research in public financing of health in developing countries, including study design, findings, study limitations, and recommendations for governments and future research.
For more information please visit www.healthmetricsandevaluation.org
MRC/HIVAN KZN AIDS Forum - 30/10/12 - Challenges and Opportunities for HIV/AI...info4africa
This presentation was given on 30/10/12 at the MRC/HIVAN KZN AIDS Forum.
Co-presented by Kwazi Mbatha (CEGAA Researcher/Trainer) and Mlungisi Vila kasi (TAC Community Mobiliser - uMgungundlovu), this talk was facilitated by Judith King (CEGAA Communications and Advocacy Manager).
For more information on CEGAA please visit their website: http://www.cegaa.org/
Early in August, President Trump issued an executive order focused on improving rural health. In response, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is moving forward with a series of assertive measures featured in a formal strategic plan to remedy the significant healthcare challenges of farmers and others living in rural communities. It addresses access to quality care, medical staffing, technology, clinical innovation, reimbursement and sustainability.Read the story and contact John Baresky for further details.
Policy Brief: What Steps Are Countries Taking To Implement Pro-Poor Universal...HFG Project
Universal health coverage (UHC)—ensuring that everyone has access to quality, affordable health services when needed—can be a vehicle for improved equity, health, financial well-being, and economic development. In its 2013 report, Global Health 2035: A World Converging within a Generation, the Commission on Investing in Health made the case that pro-poor pathways towards UHC, which target the poor from the outset, are the most efficient way to achieve both improved health outcomes and increased financial protection (FP). Countries worldwide are now embarking on health system changes to move closer to achieving UHC, often with a clear pro-poor intent.
Much has been written about what steps countries have taken and are currently taking to: (1) set and expand guaranteed services, (2) develop health financing systems to fund guaranteed services and ensure FP, (3) ensure high-quality service availability and delivery, (4) improve governance and management of the health sector, and (5) strengthen other aspects of health systems to move closer to UHC. As background for a meeting on UHC implementation, held at the Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Center, Italy, from 7–9 July 2015, we reviewed this body of literature, and conducted interviews with global UHC implementers and researchers. In this short policy brief, we synthesize the key messages from the literature and interviews.
This breakout session at the CCIH 2015 Annual Conference explores SANRU, on of the first major health systems building projects funded following Alma Ata, and perhaps the only, or one of the few to be managed through a faith-based network. The project brings healthcare to millions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
"The future of healthcare in Africa: progress, challenges and opportunities", is a new report written by The Economist Intelligence Unit and sponsored by Janssen, that explores Africa's major healthcare challenges and outlook. It explores the continent's increasing focus on primary and preventive care, the empowerment of communities as healthcare providers, the extension of universal healthcare, the spread of telemedicine, and the role of international donors.
The purpose of this presentation is to equip audiences with the ability to:
Define universal health coverage (UHC) and understand the basic tenets of UHC
Identify how UHC fits in USAID’s health and poverty reduction strategies
Effectively communicate to country stakeholders how USAID can support a country’s progress towards UHC
Identify relevant UHC resources within the Office of Health Systems and USAID
The presentation is part of the “UHC Toolkit” and accompanies Universal Health Coverage: An Annotated Bibliography, and Universal Health Coverage: Frequently Asked Questions.
Implementing Pro-Poor Universal Health CoverageHFG Project
From The Lancet Global Health: Countries worldwide are embarking on health system reforms that move them closer to UHC, in many cases with a clear pro-poor focus. Along the way, there is a wealth of guidance on the technical aspects of UHC, such as designing health service packages and developing health financing systems. However, there is very little practical guidance on how to implement these policies.
Motivated by a shared interest in helping to close this information gap, a diverse international group of 21 practitioners and academics, including ministry of health officials and representatives of global health agencies and foundations, convened at The Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Center for a three-day workshop from July 7–9, 2015.
The participants shared their experiences of implementing UHC and discussed the limited evidence on how to implement UHC, focusing on a set of seven key “how” questions from across five domains of UHC.
Follow the Money: Making the Most of Limited Health ResourcesHFG Project
Worldwide, health systems are being asked to do more with less. In many countries, donor funds have stagnated or are declining. This sharp decline could have broad implications for the health sector— particularly Namibia’s HIV and AIDS response which relies heavily on donor resources. New and emerging threats, such as Zika and Ebola, are also testing weak and fragile health systems, such as those in Guinea and Liberia. And costly noncommunicable diseases, like diabetes and cancers, are on the rise in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
With the end of the MDGs and start of the new SDGS, momentum is growing for countries around the world to pursue Universal Health Coverage (UHC) reforms and to expand affordable access to health care services, without risk of financial hardship, while facing real resource constraints in the aftermath of the global economic crisis.
In short, countries need to make their limited health resources go a long way. It is a financing challenge as well as a governance one. Countries cannot manage what they cannot measure. Countries need to measure their health spending – know where the money comes from, how much is spent and where, and how it can be spent more efficiently and equitably.
Policymakers can influence public and private health spending to improve efficiency, quality, equity, and expand access to life-saving health services. To succeed, however, governments need evidence around their health financing landscape. More and more, policymakers are appreciating the value of health resource tracking –that is, a range of methods, data collection initiatives, and estimation tools aimed at measuring the flow of funds to and through the health system.
Follow the Money: Making the Most of Limited Health ResourcesHFG Project
Worldwide, health systems are being asked to do more with less. In many countries, donor funds have stagnated or are declining. This sharp decline could have broad implications for the health sector— particularly Namibia’s HIV and AIDS response which relies heavily on donor resources. New and emerging threats, such as Zika and Ebola, are also testing weak and fragile health systems, such as those in Guinea and Liberia. And costly noncommunicable diseases, like diabetes and cancers, are on the rise in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
With the end of the MDGs and start of the new SDGS, momentum is growing for countries around the world to pursue Universal Health Coverage (UHC) reforms and to expand affordable access to health care services, without risk of financial hardship, while facing real resource constraints in the aftermath of the global economic crisis.
In short, countries need to make their limited health resources go a long way. It is a financing challenge as well as a governance one. Countries cannot manage what they cannot measure. Countries need to measure their health spending – know where the money comes from, how much is spent and where, and how it can be spent more efficiently and equitably.
HFG Project Brief - Improving Health Finance and Governance Expands Access to...HFG Project
A functional health system delivers the quality health care people need, where they need it, at
prices they can afford. The United States Agency for International Development’s Health Finance
and Governance (HFG) Project collaborates with partners in lower middle-income countries to
increase their domestic resources for health, manage those precious resources more effectively,
and make wise purchasing decisions. Effective health finance is linked closely to robust health
governance. When the governance of the health sector and its resources is weak, then investments
in technical areas are far less likely to achieve their intended results or yield better health
outcomes. Strong health governance ensures that health sector resources and funds achieve their
goals. Building more financial sustainability into health services, such as HIV and AIDS programs,
helps ensure that more people can get the health care they need to lead productive lives.
Active in more than 25 countries, USAID’s HFG Project partners with health stakeholders to
protect families from catastrophic health care costs, expand access to priority services – such as
maternal and child health care – and ensure equitable population coverage. These three pillars are
at the crux of the global movement for Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Learn more: www.hfgproject.org
Essential Package of Health Services and Health Benefit Plans Mapping BriefHFG Project
Many governments are scaling up health benefit plans, such as social health insurance, to increase population health coverage. This brief presents findings from a mapping between the services covered under the country’s prominent health benefit plan(s) to the country’s Essential Package of Health Services. The mapping analyzes the extent to which the plan(s) cover essential services.
Importance of Community Health Strategy (CHS) in attaining health goals (MNCH...REACHOUTCONSORTIUMSLIDES
Presentation given at the USAID SQALE Symposium, Bridging the Quality Gap - Strengthening Quality Improvement in Community Health Services, by S. N. Njoroge on behalf of the Kenyan Ministry of Health. http://usaidsqale.reachoutconsortium.org/
Investing in Africa’s health response by Rosemary Mburu, World AIDS Campaign ...
ACHAP 7th biennial conference concept note Feb 2015
1. 1 | P a g e
ROLE OF FAITH BASED HEALTH SERVICES IN CONTRIBUTING TO
UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE IN AFRICA
AFRICA CHRISTIAN HEALTH ASSOCIATIONS’ PLATFORM - 7TH
BIENNIAL CONFERENCE; NAIROBI KENYA
DATES: FEBRUARY 23 – 26, 2015
Background
According to WHO, the goal of Universal Health Coverage is to ensure that all people obtain needed
health services without suffering financial hardship. This requires;
A strong, efficient, well run health system
A system of financing health services so that people do not suffer financial hardship when using
them
Access to essential medicines and technologies to diagnose and treat medical problems
Sufficient capacity of well trained, motivated health workers
Recognition of the critical role played by all sectors in health
Margaret Chan, director general of the World Health Organization notes that; "Universal Health
Coverage is the single most powerful concept that public health has to offer. It is inclusive, unifies
services and delivers them in a comprehensive and integrated way based on primary health care”
Universal Health Coverage is firmly based on the WHO declaration of health as a fundamental human
right and on the “Health for All” primary health care declaration of Alma Atta.
Reports from The Lancet, show evidence that strides are being made towards achievement of universal
health coverage and that in countries currently undertaking health reforms families will no longer be at
risk of having the cost of sickness ruin their lives in a few decades to come. Despite this progress, the
Lancet notes that there is little consensus about how low-income and lower-middle-income countries
should structure reforms aimed at moving towards universal coverage.
In addition, many low-income and lower-middle-income countries are faced with the hurdle of raising
sufficient prepaid funds for expansion of health coverage due to the high percentage of the workforce in
informal employment in these countries. Large informal economies make automatic payroll or income
tax deductions difficult to implement on a widespread basis as a result many of these countries increase
expenditure through a mix of prepayment mechanisms such as general taxes, earmarked taxes, payroll
2. 2 | P a g e
deductions, and (to a lesser extent) household premium contributions, and most have simultaneously
reduced reliance on private household payments at the point of service. Donor spending also accounts
for more than a quarter of funding in some of the low-income and lower-middle income countries.
The FBO Sector in Africa
Faith-based organizations (FBOs) and particularly Church-owned/Christian health facilities, play a key
role in providing health care in many parts of the world. According to the World Health Organization
(WHO), FBOs in Africa own and operate an estimated 30% to 70% of health care facilities (see Figure 1).
In addition, FBOs often serve remote and rural areas where the public sector has difficulty attracting and
retaining health workers yet in some countries FBOs continue to remain under recognized for their
immense contributions to the health sector and are often not integrated into planning and resource
allocations for national health systems, leading to service and system redundancies and gaps.
ACHAP therefore serves as a voice for many FBO service providers in Africa and exists to ensure joint
advocacy for its members on regional and global health sector initiatives and agenda such as the need
for universal health coverage particularly so with the current Ebola crisis that has stretched health
service delivery in affected countries.
Figure 1: Contribution of Christian Health Services in Selected African Countries
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Source: Africa Christian Health Associations Platform. February 2011. www.africachap.org.
Information collected by F. Dimmock (unpublished).
The African Christian Health Association Platform (ACHAP) was established in 2007 as an advocacy and
networking platform for improving knowledge sharing and joint learning among Christian Health
Associations (CHAs) and Church Health Networks in Sub-Saharan Africa. CHA networks have a long
history of working within developing countries to provide health care services to populations in need,
and they form the integral link between the Ministry of Health and the faith-based health care facilities.
Led by Executive Secretaries or General Secretaries, who constantly engage in national, regional and
global advocacy, CHAs are well represented within the ACHAP network. These CEOs have a great
influence at country level and are key partners in mobilization of the faith community participation in
health sector initiatives as they are responsible for 30 – 40% health care delivery at country level. In
some countries, like in Zambia, the Churches Health Association of Zambia (CHAZ) is the principal
recipient and manager of global funds, ACHAP provides the framework for a collaborative network with
a cohesive voice to advocate for equitable access to quality health care. ACHAP also provides
the knowledge and skills for member facilities to deliver better care for their clientele. Currently
ACHAP’s membership includes 34 CHAs in 26 countries. The general assembly; made up of these CHAs
meets every two years and has since held six biennial conferences and general assembly meetings since
inception of ACHAP. The 7th
biennial conference will take place in February 2015 in Kenya and will be
hosted by the Christian Health Association of Kenya (CHAK).
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7th
ACHAP Biennial Conference Theme
Members, partners and collaborators of the Africa Christian Health Associations’ Platform (ACHAP) will
focus on “The role of the faith based health services in contributing to universal health coverage in
Africa” during the upcoming 7th
ACHAP biennial conference that will be held in Nairobi; Kenya from
February 23 – 26, 2015.
Purpose:
The conference will involve highly participatory sessions, technical panels, break-out sessions, case
studies and testimonials and various exhibitions. There will be key speakers from WHO, private sector,
UNAIDS, government, WB, ADB, GF and other international institutions. Members will also have
opportunities to engage with various development partners and gain a broader understanding of the
current trends and progress towards universal health coverage at a global and regional level.
The conference objectives will include:
Opportunity for ACHAP members to interact and gain an understanding on global perspectives
and updates on universal health coverage.
Involvement of the FBO sector in national health sector reforms towards universal health
coverage
Exchange and learning on country approaches, reforms and challenges in raising prepaid
revenues, pooling risk, and purchasing services
FBO sector involvement in designing national health insurance models and integration with
health systems.
Methodologies for measuring key outputs and outcomes of universal-coverage reform
Members will hold its general assembly meeting and adopt its five-year strategic plan for 2015
- 2019
Outputs from Conference:
At the end of the conference the ACHAP members will create a roadmap through a conference
statement of commitment and consensus on joint advocacy for universal health coverage in
Africa.
The general assembly will be held and five-year strategic plan adopted.