The
East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA) in
collaboration with the International Best Practices (IBP) has organised
an international consortium which was to kick-off yesterday in the
Tanzania’s northern safari capital of Arusha.
Briefing reporters here at the weekend, assistant director of reproductive health in the ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Neema Rusilamayila said the three-day forum is to bring on board several health experts from East, Central and Southern African countries.
“Experts are meeting here to discuss challenges facing health service delivery in the sub-Saharan Africa, with more focus on youth and the disabled,” she said, adding that at the end of the meeting participants will come up with practical solutions to those challenges.
The director said youth in the region consists of 30 percent of the total population, hence there is a need for them to access better health services remained important.
She also attributed the disabled as important segment in the society that need to be taken into consideration when it comes to health service delivery.
Citing examples, ECSA’s Director General, Josephine Kibaru-Mbae said: “There are women who are disabled, who always unable to get better health services, because of poor infrastructures available in our health facilities. So, this forum will come up with resolutions towards improving services to that group in the society.”
The consortium is to be graced by Tanzania’s minister for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Hussein Mwinyi.
ECSA is a legitimate inter-governmental regional organisation established in 1974 under the auspices of the Commonwealth Secretariat, London to foster and strengthen regional cooperation and capacity to address the health needs of the member states in the East, Central and Southern Africa region.
Health Community as a permanent mechanism for cooperation in health with the mandate “to promote and encourage efficiency and relevance in the provision of health services in the region.”. ECSA – HC currently consists of 10 member countries namely Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Seychelles, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The BPF will bring together Senior Officials (who include Health Experts, Health Researchers and Heads of Health Training Institutions) from Ministries of Health of the ECSA.
The forum is themed ‘Strengthening the Response to Emerging and re-emerging Health Concerns’ and its sub-themes include Integration of Non-Communicable and Communicable Disease programmes, addressing Adolescent Health Issues, and strengthening Global Health Diplomacy for Equity in Public Health Delivery.
Contacted yesterday Ministry of Foreign Affair’s Spokesperson Ally Mkumbwa said he was not aware of the resolution promising to give details after he has gone through it.
He said although Tanzania has not signed the resolution, it should not be considered that the government has refused to sign because even prior to the resolution it has been in fore front to fight against killings of people with albinism.
“Signing the resolution is not a big deal what matters is its implementations…the government can’t refuse to sign it, it is the matter of timing and consideration,” he said.
Briefing reporters here at the weekend, assistant director of reproductive health in the ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Neema Rusilamayila said the three-day forum is to bring on board several health experts from East, Central and Southern African countries.
ECSA's Director General, Josephine Kibaru-Mbae
“Experts are meeting here to discuss challenges facing health service delivery in the sub-Saharan Africa, with more focus on youth and the disabled,” she said, adding that at the end of the meeting participants will come up with practical solutions to those challenges.
The director said youth in the region consists of 30 percent of the total population, hence there is a need for them to access better health services remained important.
She also attributed the disabled as important segment in the society that need to be taken into consideration when it comes to health service delivery.
Citing examples, ECSA’s Director General, Josephine Kibaru-Mbae said: “There are women who are disabled, who always unable to get better health services, because of poor infrastructures available in our health facilities. So, this forum will come up with resolutions towards improving services to that group in the society.”
The consortium is to be graced by Tanzania’s minister for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Hussein Mwinyi.
ECSA is a legitimate inter-governmental regional organisation established in 1974 under the auspices of the Commonwealth Secretariat, London to foster and strengthen regional cooperation and capacity to address the health needs of the member states in the East, Central and Southern Africa region.
Health Community as a permanent mechanism for cooperation in health with the mandate “to promote and encourage efficiency and relevance in the provision of health services in the region.”. ECSA – HC currently consists of 10 member countries namely Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Seychelles, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The BPF will bring together Senior Officials (who include Health Experts, Health Researchers and Heads of Health Training Institutions) from Ministries of Health of the ECSA.
The forum is themed ‘Strengthening the Response to Emerging and re-emerging Health Concerns’ and its sub-themes include Integration of Non-Communicable and Communicable Disease programmes, addressing Adolescent Health Issues, and strengthening Global Health Diplomacy for Equity in Public Health Delivery.
Contacted yesterday Ministry of Foreign Affair’s Spokesperson Ally Mkumbwa said he was not aware of the resolution promising to give details after he has gone through it.
He said although Tanzania has not signed the resolution, it should not be considered that the government has refused to sign because even prior to the resolution it has been in fore front to fight against killings of people with albinism.
“Signing the resolution is not a big deal what matters is its implementations…the government can’t refuse to sign it, it is the matter of timing and consideration,” he said.
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN
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