Ghana’s Representative from the World Health Organization, Dr Wrislen Doe has underscored the need to increase efforts and measures in strengthening Primary Healthcare in the Country.
Speaking at the 14th African Regional meeting of the International Federation of Medical Students’ Association held at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in December 2018, Dr. Doe expressed concerns over reasons why stakeholders should not remain unconcerned about the need to making Primary Health a priority.
“At this point and era when the world is striving to leave no one behind, ensuring access to quality and essential Health Services for everyone is the core to universal health coverage,” she said.
According to him, It has emerged that the beginning point of universal healthcare is a strong primary healthcare.
He further lauded Ghana for implementing and significantly improving the National Health Insurance Scheme since it serves as a financial risk protection for Ghanaians seeking healthcare.
Dr Doe maintained that the main domain of universal healthcare coverage is hinged on availability, accessibility, affordability and quality of healthcare services been offered.
“Universal healthcare coverage is about ensuring all people have access to quality healthcare services they need without suffering financial difficulty in accessing them,” She explained.
Dr Wrislen Doe said ensuring access to essential healthcare services to everyone is a core of universal health coverage and to the largest global health organization, the WHO, this is a top priority. Universal healthcare she believes is anchored on six main pillars including health financing, essential medicines, health system governance, health statistics and information, service delivery and health work force.
Achieving the sustainable development Goals three (3), requires interventions and policies to ensure all the pillars of universal health coverage are met. Particularly important is the health financing component. In situation where there is accessibility of quality healthcare and affordability is a problem, the issue of poor healthcare lingers on. This is even more debilitating to the poor and those suffering from chronic diseases. The implementation of health insurance schemes by countries to the WHO is a significant step to providing for the health financing component of the universal health coverage.
The The Federation of Ghana Medical Students Association and International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (FGMSA-IFMSA) regional meeting which was organized under the theme “Rural and Remote healthcare; increasing quality and accessibility to reach everyone everywhere.” saw medical students from over 20 African countries gather on the campus of KNUST to delibrate on matters pertaining to healthcare in the sub-region.
Outlining the purpose of the gathering in his welcome address, President of the Federation of Ghana Medical Students’ Association, Kennedy Ngaaso said that this was the first ever time Ghana was hosting the annual event since it was founded in 1993.
According to him, some of the successes chalked by the Association over the years include but not limited to Drugs abuse campaigns and cervical cancer screening and treatment.
The International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA), is one of the world’s oldest and largest student-run organizations. It represents, connects and engages every day with medical students from over 125 countries around the globe.
IFMSA seeks to promote Public Health, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Medical Education and Human Rights and Peace.
IFMSA also brings people together to exchange, discuss and initiate projects to create a healthier world. It trains its members to give them the skills and resources needed to be health leaders while advocating for the pressing issues that matter to shape the world.