WHO announces transition to revitalized primary health care approach in Angola
Source：Relief Web
From：Angola
Update Time：2024/01/01
In a significant development for global health, the World Health Organization (WHO) has announced a pivotal shift in its health care strategy in Angola, moving from the traditional Primary Health Care (PHC) approach to a newly Revitalized Primary Health Care Approach. This announcement was made by Dr. Humphrey Karamagi, the Acting WHO Representative in Angola.
The traditional PHC approach, rooted in the principles of the 1978 Alma Ata conference, focused on accessibility, public participation, health promotion, and appropriate technology. While it laid a solid foundation for health systems, providing basic yet essential services, evolving health dynamics and new challenges have necessitated a reevaluation and recalibration of this approach.
WHO's new mission, driven by its triple billion targets, is to ensure universal health coverage for a billion more people, protect another billion from health emergencies, and enhance the health and well-being of a billion more by 2025. However, the health service coverage in Africa, including Angola, remains below the global average. Financial constraints, workforce shortages, and infrastructure deficits in the health sector are significant challenges that the continent faces.
The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the resilience and potential for improvement in health systems, but also their vulnerabilities. The Revitalized PHC Approach, as envisioned in the Astana Declaration 2018, is a response to these challenges. It is person-centered, addressing diverse health and well-being needs, and extends the entire continuum of care.
For Angola, this revitalized approach means a shift from a package for the rural poor to an essential package for all, prioritizing individuals over programs, extending focus beyond mothers and children to all vulnerable populations, and addressing all health conditions.
Dr. Karamagi outlined five key action areas for realigning health systems with the revitalized PHC approach. These include defining an essential health package of services, exploring modalities for delivering these services, integrating PHC components, ensuring system readiness, and establishing a robust monitoring system.
The WHO's commitment to this new approach in Angola is a crucial step towards achieving the goal of health for all. The success of this initiative in Angola could serve as a model for other African nations, potentially reshaping the future of health care on the continent.
Source: https://reliefweb.int/report/angola/building-healthier-future-revitalizing-primary-health-care-approach-angola