Dear HIFA colleagues and friends
Health equity is an aspiration and a goal to attain for All health systems. Universal health coverage is the manifestation of this goal. On the 12th April in Bertoua (East region of Cameroon), Dr Manouada Malachie, Minister of Public health launched the first phase of the long awaited Universal Health Coverage in Cameroon. The launch of the UHC is a very bold and necessary step in a context characterised by the impact of COVID19, the ongoing sociopolitical crisis in the South West and North West regions, the humanitarian crisis in the Far North region and the ongoing Ukraine-Russian war which have all affected the health system considerably.
Interestingly on the same day the official launch was made, important discussions were ongoing at the Solomon Tandeng Muna Foundation on major setbacks in attaining Universal Health Coverage in Cameroon. These discussions were organized by the Denis and Lenora Foretia Foundation and Nkafu Policy Institute. The discussion was a panel discussion involving public health experts, community health workers and health economists. The overall objective of the panel discussion was to identify the loopholes in the healthcare system preventing the attainment of universal health coverage. Several participants from a variety of fields ranging from policy analysts, mental health practitioners to local organization leaders were present.
The question of health equity calls in for important considerations. On the one hand that health be considered a common good and complete as stipulated by the WHO constitution. In this regard, mental health has to be fully integrated in universal health coverage processes. This is in line with WHO special initiative for mental health 2019-2023, Universal Health Coverage for Mental Health. On the other hand, access to and availability of reliable and accurate health information should be democratized. So as to lead to informed health decision making at all levels. The attainment of UHC by 2030, health for all, mental health for all as well is a global aspiration.
In fact, HIFA in Cameroon has been working since 2013 to raise awareness and engage private and public stakeholders in health to be sensitive to the availability and access to health information.
I am optimistic that as the first phase of UHC in Cameroon starts, it leads the way to a gradual but complete transformation of the health system so that everyone everywhere enjoys quality mental health and health.
Congratulations Cameroon for this bold step!.
For more information on UHC in Cameroon https://csu.minsante.cm/
For more information about the panel discussion
https://www.foretiafoundation.org/event/major-setbacks-in-attaining-univ...
For more information on WHO special initiave for mental health
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUK...
For HIFA's analysis on UHC https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32424012/
Warm regards,
Didier Demassosso
HIFA Country Representative For Cameroon
Mental Health Advocate
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Didier Demassosso
Mental Health Expert
HIFA Country Coordinator For WHO AFRO Region
HIFA Country representative of the year 2014
MHIN Africa Knowledge Exchange Assistant
Member of the African Evidence Network (AEN)
Cameroon Human Right Fellow 2017
http://www.hifa.org
Tel :(237) 670-14-01-23/694-90-20-29
twitter:@DDemassosso
skype: Didier Demassosso
linkedin.com/in/didier-demassosso
HIFA profile: Didier Demassosso is a mental health practitioner, Consultant (WHO , MoPH Cameroon...), Mental health advocate , Youth advocate with 10 years experience in mental health development in Cameroon. He is also a health communicator and educationist. HIFA Country Representative For Cameroon/ HIFA Country Representative of the year 2014 / Regional Coordinator for Africa. He also currently volunteers for the Mental Health Innovation Network Africa as Knowledge Exchange Assistant. http://www.hifa.org/people/country-representatives/map
http://www.hifa.org/support/members/didier
Email: didier.demassosso AT gmail.com
