On 14 February 2020, Valentine ’s Day, the AfNHi youth cohort ran a social media campaign to increase young people’s awareness on HIV prevention. This outreach activity was designed to empower the youth to initiate the sex and HIV prevention discussion among their peers. The key messages shared on the campaign were; Know your partner before engaging in risky sexual behaviour; know your HIV status; protect yourself and your partner by using the available HIV prevention tools.
AfNHi youth cohort is a mobilization platform for young people to engage in HIV prevention research advocacy by equipping them with knowledge and capacity.
Youth leaders at the YLH4 advocacy training WACI Health/2020
WACI Health and partners organized the Youth Leaders for Health Program (YL4H) training on 27 – 31 January 2020 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. YL4H is a joint program by WACI Health, RESULTS UK, Health Promotion Tanzania-HDT, Hope for Future Generations (Ghana), and CISMAT- SL (Sierra Leone) with support from Comic Relief. The program has brought together 25 Youth Leaders from Tanzania, Sierra Leone and Ghana passionate about health and healthcare systems.
The youth leaders will influence decision-makers during pivotal moments such as national elections, the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and World Malaria Day towards ending the malaria epidemic; to achieve universal health coverage (UHC).
Additionally, the youth leaders’ advocacy work in will involve close liaison with the Africa Union Commission to influence policy change on malaria as a key outcome measure of well-functioning primary healthcare systems and health systems strengthening at global, regional levels, specifically the Commonwealth Youth Leaders Declaration and the Consensus of the Heads of State of the African Union, and at country level.
So that with strong health systems, we see an end to epidemics, neglected tropical diseases and communicable diseases by 2030.
‘Together we will advocate for policy change at key national, regional and global advocacy moments. We shall influence decision-makers during a range of pivotal moments such as national elections, the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and World Malaria Day towards ending the malaria epidemic, achieve universal health coverage (UHC) and create lasting impact.’ Quipped the enthusiastic youths. Read the statement issued by the youth here.
On 13 January, WACI Health and GFAN Africa joined civil society organizations in Kenya and participated in public hearings for the year 2020/2021 budget. Thereafter, the civil society organizations presented a memorandum to the Permanent Secretary, National Treasury, and Planning, outlining budgetary concerns for the health sector.
Noting that health is a fundamental human right, the CSOs acknowledged the Government’s commitment to health and its focus on achieving Universal healthcare coverage. They urged the Government of Kenya to increase its allocation of domestic resources for health to ensure effective and efficient quality healthcare for all Kenyans.
Additional funds are urgently required for hiring additional health professionals, renovation of public health facilities, improving the supply chain management and for the expansion of the national referral system. Additionally, there should be emphasis and scaling up of promotional and preventive healthcare services. Investments in health should be considered in partnership with other sectors such as the environment, in the wake of climate change which has resulted in emerging and increasing vector-borne diseases.
Additional domestic resources for health are especially critical at this time that donor funding is dwindling as Kenya is a lower-middle-income country. Investment in health is key to achieving the 2030 development agenda and for sustainable economic growth leading to a prosperous Kenya.
H.E Prof. Sarah Anyang Agbor Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology at the African Union Commission, receiving a token of appreciation from Emerica Jal-Koroma (Sierra Leone) on behalf of Youth Leaders for Health.
WACI Health is thrilled to partner in the Youth Leaders for Health Program (YL4H). YL4H is a joint program by WACI Health, RESULTS UK, Health Promotion Tanzania-HDT, Hope for Future Generations (Ghana), and CISMAT- SL (Sierra Leone) with support from Comic Relief. The program brings together 25 Youth Leaders from Tanzania, Sierra Leone and Ghana passionate about health and healthcare systems.
Together we will advocate for policy change at key national, regional and global advocacy moments. We shall influence decision-makers during a range of pivotal moments such as national elections, the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and World Malaria Day towards ending the malaria epidemic, achieve universal health coverage (UHC) and create lasting impact.
On 18 December, GFAN Africa and WACI Health visited the Embassy of Netherlands in Nairobi and presented a thank you letter, appreciating the country for their generous contribution towards the 6th replenishment of the Global Fund. Netherlands contribution of €156 million for the period 2020 – 2022 which will enable the Global Fund support countries in their efforts to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria and to save lives.
Johnstone Kuya, the Senior Policy Officer in charge of strategic partnerships at the Embassy informed us that The Netherlands is keen on investing in HIV and AIDS, sexual and reproductive health and rights. Within these topics, the country has interests in prevention and care, key populations, and access to information and resources.
Acknowledging the huge role that civil society played in mobilizing resources towards the replenishment, Mr Kuya emphasized that there is urgent need for civil society to do high level targeted advocacy asking implementing countries to allocate more resources for health. It’s the only option in the face of dwindling donor funding as countries such as Kenya become middle income countries. “Governments must own take responsibility for the healthcare of their citizens” He underscored.
12 December is Universal health coverage (UHC) day. We call on world leaders to #KeepthePromise they made at the 2019 High-Level Meeting on UHC to achieve #HealthForAll by 2030. UHC ensures that all people, everywhere, can get the quality health services they need without facing financial hardship. It is fundamentally a political goal, rooted in the right to health. It is also one of the smartest investments any country can make.
We call for strong, equitable health systems that leave no one behind. And now that leaders from every country have committed to Health for All once again, we remind them that they must put the needs of the poorest & most marginalized groups first, not last.210 million people worldwide must spend >25% of their household budget to get the healthcare services they need. No one should have to choose between health & other necessities no matter their gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, age, ability or citizenship.
Everyone is entitled to the right care, at the right time, right in their communities. Health workers, young people and communities whose rights, needs and experiences have been sidelined for too long must be engaged. It’s one of the best ways to help people lead a healthy and prosperous life.
On 2 December, GFAN Africa met with Peter Sands the Executive Director of The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria on the sidelines of ICASA 2019 Rwanda and had conversations on the 6th replenishment of the Global Fund. The October 2019 replenishment raised $14.028 billion to help save 16 million lives and avert 234 million new HIV, tuberculosis and malaria infections in the next three years.
Peter acknowledged the enormous role that civil society played in advocacy in the run up to the replenishment, which led to increased contributions by implementing countries in Africa and ultimately, to a successful replenishment. A record 24 countries pledged towards the replenishment. In the build up to the replenishment conference, civil society organizations in Africa, had written letters to Presidents, Ministers for Health, Ministers for Finance and Ministers for Foreign Affairs, asking for early and increased contributions towards the replenishment. This is in addition to lobbying donor countries to increase their contributions.
Peter emphasized that the focus of the Global Fund is to save lives and to prevent new infections.
Civil society organizations will give prominence to advocacy for implementing countries to increase their allocation of domestic resources for health. As the Global Fund increases allocations to implementing countries, they must also allocate more resources for health. This calls for long sustained action and ensuring broad spending on health to achieve universal healthcare coverage so that no one is left behind. Emphasis must be on primary healthcare and putting the last first especially those on the outskirts and in far flung areas. To ensure value for money, civil society must look out for where and how money is spent to ensure utmost appropriate use of resources.
There is a weighty link between health and the environment. Health outcomes are linked to environmental risks such as poor quality of air, exposure to hazardous waste and chemicals as well as climate change.
To successfully tackle health challenges, we must also address matters environment. For example, to defeat malaria and tuberculosis and many non-communicable diseases, we must address environmental issues that make mosquitoes thrive and address the challenge of pollution.
Plastic pollution has become a major development challenge across the world. In Ghana, statistics from UNDP show that the country generates about 1 million tons of plastic waste annually. Out of this, only 2-5% are recycled.
Young Awareness Advocates Ghana, groomed by Hope for Future Generations (HFFG), a member of GFAN Africa focused on empowering women, children and youth have committed to help promote a sustainable environment by reducing the amount of waste they generate, both at home and in school.
“Reduce, reuse, recycle,” was the theme when advocates met the UNAIDS Ghana Country Director, Angela Trenton-Mbonde, in Accra, Ghana. The advocates took turns to make personal pledges to adopt better waste management practices in order to promote environmental sustainability.
“I commit to acquiring a personal reusable water bottle and to avoiding single-use plastic bottles. This, I believe, will safeguard the planet for everyone,” Pricilla Addo said.
Samuel Nyarko said “I pledge to personally ensure that waste generated in my household is well separated so that plastics can easily be collected and recycled. I will educate my schoolmates and community to do the same.”
Ms. Trenton-Mbonde encouraged the young people to ensure that their commitments to the planet are fulfilled. “For a sustainable environment, each of us must take personal responsibility and make one commitment, no matter how small and insignificant it may seem in the beginning, because in the end we are all connected: people and the planet,” she said.
UNAIDS Ghana Country Director, Angela Trenton-Mbonde speaks to meeting participants
Climate action advocates pose for a photo with the Executive Director of HFFG Ghana Ms. Cecilia Senoo (4th from right)
Olivia Ngou, a member of GFAN Africa, who on 19th November received the #ReachAward as a Rising Champion says ‘I believe malaria elimination will not be possible unless the local communities and civil society are fully and meaningfully engaged, as they are the front liners and the ones present in areas where the health systems are unable to reach, working with them will help to save lives but also ensure universal coverage of interventions for communities at risk”.
Olivia is a skilled and passionate advocate for ending malaria in her home country of Cameroon and worldwide. Her advocacy efforts include engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, from students to Parliamentarians, to help them understand the importance of their role in ending malaria and galvanizing them to take action.
The Reach Award recognizes people who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership and commitment to disease elimination. The award is given by Reaching The Last Mile an organization that is committed to ending preventable diseases that affect the world’s poorest and most vulnerable communities and helping millions of children and adults live healthy, dignified lives.
According to the 2018 Malaria report by WHO, in 2017, there were an estimated 219 million malaria cases worldwide. The report further posits that there was an 18% global decrease in malaria incidence between 2010 and 2017 and an estimated 28% decrease in global malaria deaths between 2010 and 2017.
There is a need for urgent action to get the malaria response back on track with countries most affected by malaria playing a very significant role. Besides, malaria must remain high on the political agenda, so that additional resources are mobilized and communities empowered to take ownership of malaria prevention and care.
Olivia Ngou receives the #ReachAward from Bill Gates
In November, the membership of GFAN Africa set aside a day of action when they said thank you to private sector organizations, Foundations, African Governments and donors; who contributed towards the successful 6th replenishment of the Global Fund which raised $14.028 billion.
Expressing gratitude for the strong commitment towards global health, GFAN Africa membership described the contributions as life – saving. They emphasized that the resources for the period 2020 – 2022 will reduce suffering, strengthen health security, and catalyze economic growth. The resources have equipped the Global Fund partnership to cut the mortality rate resulting from HIV, TB and malaria by half, avert 234 million new infections across the three diseases and save 16 million lives by 2023. Additionally, the funds will contribute to achieving universal healthcare coverage, the achievement of sustainable development goal three on the health and well-being of all, and indeed to building a more prosperous, equitable and sustainable world. A world in which no one is left behind.
While noting that African Governments doubled their contributions from the 5th replenishment, GFAN Africa membership underscored the need to increase the allocation of domestic resources for health, and highlighted that healthy citizens create wealth, leading to economic prosperity.
