African Nations Must Strengthen Steps To Implement Universal Health Coverage

Project Syndicate: Achieving Universal Health Coverage in Africa
Matshidiso Moeti, regional director for Africa at the WHO

“…[S]trong health care systems are critical not only in times of crisis. They are also needed to provide children with life-saving immunizations; to provide women with reproductive care, including contraception; and to provide all people with preventive services and treatments to address the growing burden of non-communicable diseases. When people are healthy, everyone benefits. … Countries across Africa are already taking steps to advance [Universal Health Coverage (UHC)]. … Yet much more work needs to be done to ensure that all people in all countries across Africa — and, indeed, across the developing world — have access to the health care they need. … Indeed, the [WHO] Windhoek meeting — which coincides with the third UHC Day on 12 December — offers an unprecedented opportunity for countries to define the critical measures needed, and make concrete commitments to strengthen integrated, people-centered services rooted in primary health care. … Achieving UHC is not just a moral imperative; it’s also an economic one. The time has come to fulfill it” (12/12).

The KFF Daily Global Health Policy Report summarized news and information on global health policy from hundreds of sources, from May 2009 through December 2020. All summaries are archived and available via search.

KFF Headquarters: 185 Berry St., Suite 2000, San Francisco, CA 94107 | Phone 650-854-9400
Washington Offices and Barbara Jordan Conference Center: 1330 G Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005 | Phone 202-347-5270

www.kff.org | Email Alerts: kff.org/email | facebook.com/KFF | twitter.com/kff

The independent source for health policy research, polling, and news, KFF is a nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, California.