Africa faces a range of healthcare challenges, from infectious diseases such as Cholera, Malaria, Ebola, HIV, and more recently, Coronavirus, to a growing number of chronic diseases. This is partly attributable to the healthcare financing structure and magnitude and the health system functionality in Africa.
According to the United Nations, less than half of the global population receives essential health services and believes good health is essential to sustainable development. As a result, in 2015, the United Nations introduced the 2030 Agenda for 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The roll-out of SGD #3 – Good Health and Well-Being includes:
- Reducing global maternal mortality.
- Ending preventable deaths of newborns and children under five years of age.
- Ending the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases, and combating hepatitis, water-borne diseases, and other communicable diseases.
- Strengthening the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.
- Ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health care services, including Family Planning Information and Education.
- Strengthening mental health well-being through awareness, information, and Education.
SIPAD International’s Commitment to Good Health and Well-being:
- Be a conduit for the Ministry of Health (MoH) in providing equitable access to quality health services to rural communities.
- Promote the Universal Health Coverage goal for healthcare services as a fundamental human right in Africa. This would allow individuals and communities to receive the necessary healthcare services without suffering financial hardship or catastrophic health situations. This includes promoting the provision of the full spectrum of essential, quality health services, from health promotion to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care across the life course of individuals and households.
- Help rural health centers partner with government and international organizations to provide basic healthcare service delivery facilities and services to help improve the overall health of populations in rural communities.
Advance community health professionals by offering blended training that includes a combination of face-to-face workshops and self-study, as well as cross-training with international community health workers for organizational change at the local level. This will ensure rural communities receive quality and compassionate care from healthcare providers. Introducing behavior and social approaches designed to reach the behavioral management skills necessary for successfully adopting and maintaining attitude and behavior change will result in better patient care services.
Promote community outreach activities in line with SGDs and Universal Health Coverage Goal to:
- Assist in bridging the gap between needs and service provision.
- Provide vaccinations
- Pharmacy services
- Pre/Post-natal care
- Various counseling services
- Health Education – general health, family planning, tropical and communicable diseases, substance and alcohol abuse, and mental health.
- Good hygienic habits to help prevent infections and diseases.
- Care for the elderly and persons with disabilities