International Journal of Health Policy and Management

International Journal of Health Policy and Management

Sustaining Health for Wealth: Perspectives for the Post-2015 Agenda; Comment on “Improving the World’s Health Through the Post-2015 Development Agenda: Perspectives From Rwanda”

Document Type : Commentary

Author
Bartholomew K. Armah
Renewal of Planning Section, Macroeconomic Policy Division, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
10.15171/ijhpm.2015.112
Abstract
The sustainable development goals (SDGs) offer a unique opportunity for policy-makers to build on the millennium development goals (MDGs) by adopting more sustainable approaches to addressing global development challenges. The delivery of health services is of particular concern. Most African countries are unlikely to achieve the health MDGs, however, significant progress has been made particularly in the area of child and maternal health due in part to significant external support. The weak global recovery, and persistent inequalities in access to healthcare, however, call into question the sustainability of the achievements made. Building on the principles articulated in Binagwaho and Scott, this commentary argues that addressing inequalities and promoting more integrated approaches to health service delivery is vital for consolidating and sustaining the health sector achievements in Africa.

Highlights

 

 

Watch the Video Summary here. 

 

Keywords
Health Systems
Sustainability
Africa
Income and Spatial Inequalities
Vertical Programmes
Subjects

 

 

  1. Binagwaho A, Scott KW. Improving the world’s health through the post-2015 development agenda: Perspectives from Rwanda. Int J Health Policy Manag. 2015;4(4):203-205. doi:10.15171/ijhpm.2015.46
  2. United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD). Millennium Development Goals indicators database. http://mdgs.un.org/unsd/mdg/Data.aspx.  Accessed  March 5, 2015.
  3. World Health Organization (WHO). World Malaria Report 2014. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO; 2014.
  4. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The State of the World’s Midwifery 2014: A Universal Pathway. A Woman’s Right to Health. http://www.unfpa.org/sowmy. Accessed March 9, 2015. Published 2014.
  5. Dunkle KL, Jewkes RK, Brown HC, Gray GE, McIntryre JA, Harlow SD. Gender-based violence, relationship power, and risk of HIV infection in women attending antenatal clinics in South Africa. Lancet. 2004;363(9419):1415-1421. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(04)16098-4
  6. Vlahov D, Freudenberg N, Proietti F, et al. Urban as a determinant of health. J Urban Health. 2007;84(3 Suppl):i16-i26.
  7. UN Habitat. Planning And Design For Sustainable Urban Mobility: Global Report On Human Settlements 2013.  UN Habitat; 2013.
  8. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). “Skilled Attendant at Birth”, United Nations Children’s Fund. www.childinfo.org/delivery_care_countrydata.php.UpdatedJanuary 2013.
  9. United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). The GAP Report. Geneva, Switzerland: UNAIDS; 2014.
  10. Kendall T, Bärnighausen T, Fawzi WW, Langer A. Towards comprehensive women's healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa: addressing intersections between HIV, reproductive and maternal health. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2014;67(suppl 4):S169-S172. doi:10.1097/QAI.0000000000000382
  11. Berer M. HIV/AIDS, sexual and reproductive health: intersections and implications for national programmes. Health Policy Plan. 2004;19(suppl 1):i62-i70.
  12. Chen L, Evans T, Anand S, et al. Human resources for health: overcoming the crisis. Lancet. 2004;364(9449):1984-1990.
  13. Burki  T. Prioritizing Clean Water and Sanitation. Lancet. 2015;15(2):153-154. doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(15)70012-5
  14. African Union Commission, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, African Development Bank, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Assessing progress in Africa towards the Millennium Development Goals: Emerging perspectives from Africa on the post-2015 development agenda; 2012.
  15. Mills A. Vertical vs horizontal health programmes in Africa: idealism, pragmatism, resources and efficiency. Soc Sci Med. 1983;17(24):1971-81.
  16. Global Fund. http://www.theglobalfund.org/en/about/fundingspending/#disbursed. Accessed April 27, 2015.
  17. Government of the Republic of Zambia. Zambia National Malaria Indicator Survey. Zambia: Ministry of Health; 2008.
  18. Government of the Republic of Zambia. Zambia National Malaria Indicator Survey. Zambia: Ministry of Health; 2010.

  • Received Date 09 May 2015
  • Revised Date 04 June 2015
  • Accepted Date 04 June 2015
  • First Published Date 01 October 2015
  • Published Date 01 October 2015