Universal Health Coverage Day

In commemoration of the Universal health coverage day, we at PHNAfrica.com will be focusing on the subject of universal health coverage and how far Africa has come as a continent in the attainment of this goal while reaffirming our commitment as a body to the achievement of quality and affordable health care for everyone everywhere in the sub Saharan Subcontinent.

Needless to say, there has not been a time in history as this where man has come so close to the achievement of this goal as now. Unprecedented technological advancement, technological and medical know how, coupled with sufficient financial, material and human resources have made it clear that this goal is achievable in these times with adequate political and socio economic commitment to the cause.

In the sub Saharan subcontinent, there seems to have been a unanimous commitment to this cause over the years, however these nations are still very far from the attainment of the provisions of the UNs 1948 declaration of health and access to health care as a fundamental human right.
Access to health care of acceptable quality is still more of a commodity and not a fundamental human right across the subcontinent.

Why is this so? One would ask?

Lack of political will and decades of pathological selfishness of governments and elected officials have led to a scenario where by leading health officials and decision makers continue to pay a mere lip service to this declaration through policies and programs that are not followed through but are a times used just as a means to gain international recognition and further enrich themselves while sabotaging nearly every effort made by other well meaning organizations and members of the civil society to alleviate the suffering of the masses from the stand point of health and access to health care.

In my opinion, it is time for us a people to begin to ask the right questions and demand answers from our leaders as to how the resources meant for everyone are being spent on just a select few.
Medical tourism to other continents of the world by elected leaders and politicians should be investigated and it should be made clear to all and sundry how public funds are being disseminated.

It is time for us to begin to address the selfishness of our leaders who refuse to develop our educational sector while sending their own kids out of the continent to schools abroad and those that also refuse to develop our health sector and prefer to jump on the next available airplane at the faintest sign of a headache.

It is time to demand accountability in leadership and advocate for a result oriented leadership. 
In this new era of the sustainable development goals, it is time to hold our governments and leaders accountable for the stipulated targets of the health related SDG; goal 3.

It is time to simply say NO to corruption and the negative pull of socio economic forces that make a fool of initiatives, programs and policies designed for the well being of the populace.

The right to health and quality health care is everyone's business. 

Stand up for your right today!
#healthforall