Regional partnership vital in changing health ministries

01 Feb, 2015 - 00:02 0 Views
Regional partnership vital in changing health ministries Dr Parirenyatwa

The Sunday News

SADC Ministers of Health and Ministers responsible for HIV and Aids recently met in Victoria Falls to review progress in the implementation of regional policies and programmes to address public health matters. The meeting was attended by health officials from 12 countries that face common challenges of HIV, Malaria and Tuberculosis.

During the deliberations, member States noted that regional partnership — in tackling the triple burden of HIV, TB and Malaria by improving information communication technologies (ICTs) in health communication and strengthening of relationships with the private sector — is going to bring meaningful change to the health ministries.

Minister of Health and Child Care Dr David Parirenyatwa, who is also the Chairperson of the SADC Ministers of Health and Ministers responsible for HIV and Aids, said member States have been neglecting the private sector and need to bring them on board.

“We have to mobilise these people so they assist us in terms of funding. They can aid by complementing funding that is already there as they are an important and powerful sector that can help SADC countries in tackling their health challenges,” he said.

Dr Parirenyatwa said there will be consultative meetings with the private sector, especially on the sidelines of conferences such as the just ended one, so as to be kept abreast with developments that will have an impact on governments and their health sectors.

He also noted that the region has been under-utilising the private sector and that they now need to come on board.

“We have not been using the private sector fully and now we have to bring them on board full time. We have been relying on donors for a very long time. Bringing in the private sector will go a long way in realising positive change,” he added.

Dr Brian Brink, the chief medical officer for mining giant Anglo-American, said in realising the gains of the public and private partnership both sectors have to bring in the best of what they have to offer.

“We are very much aware of the inequality that is there between what is offered between the public and private sectors in the health sector. We cannot tolerate such inequality if we are seeking to improve health for all; so we have to find ways to get beyond that,” Dr Brink said.

He further said in business, a sick workforce cannot be productive for business and that business cannot make profits. A sick community on the other hand, he said, cannot be good for business planning and is very hopeless.

Mr Brink gave an example of the Ebola virus in West Africa where he said the virus thrived in a region with a weak health sector and affected thousands of people. He said the destruction caused by the epidemic has had a negative impact on businesses and the economy at large.

“We are yet to hear the extent to which Ebola affected businesses in West Africa but it has been huge and we cannot run businesses in such an environment. It’s a lesson that we have to learn.

“We have to get a healthier workforce and community by strengthening the partnerships. Again, we cannot tolerate weak health systems. There has to be adequate workforce, infrastructure and equipment in a bid to strengthen the facilities,” he said.

Absenteeism in the workplace in most countries in Africa is said to be at 40 percent and this was attributed to ill health in most cases, which has a negative effect on production and profits of businesses as they cannot thrive in such an environment.

The ministers all concurred that many health facilities in the SADC region were not up to standard, with much work needing to be done.

ICTs were identified as an important component in health communication as the media influences behaviour change, thereby contributing to the realisation of positive health outcomes.

Dr Parirenyatwa said they were targeting to have found a lasting solution to the challenge of HIV by 2030.

“As a region we are looking at HIV now and we want to have eliminated the spread of the virus by 2030. Again, people should not die of Aids too. Leaders have to find ways to ensure that we achieve this by recommitting ourselves in this fight,” he said.

Other issues that came out of the conference include the Ebola virus that has hit countries in West Africa and that the SADC countries were not affected but still need to remain vigilant.

Ministers said they were going to keep educating populations on what to do in the event that they suspect Ebola in their surroundings.

A controversial discussion also took off as some countries felt they were putting themselves at risk by sending people to assist in West Africa.

Dr Parirenyatwa said there was a taskforce that was created to see to it that member States are alert on the challenges that emerge.

“We have a taskforce that will see what can be done if we send volunteers to West Africa and one of them contracts it. Are we ready to deal with it? We then need to monitor such people and see if they are a high risk,” he said.

The SADC health ministers then suggested that countries make careful considerations over sending volunteers to West Africa and the implications that this has on the health sector. They said proper safety measures were to be looked into.

Dr Parirenyatwa said member states should continue to be on the lookout at entry points so that people are safe.

SADC countries were also commended for the efforts they have made in contributing to the Ebola affected countries as they responded to the call made by the African Union to assist affected areas.

Share This:

Survey


We value your opinion! Take a moment to complete our survey

This will close in 20 seconds