Press Statement: STAKEHOLDERS CALL FOR ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNANCE TO ENSURE THE RIGHT TO HEALTH FOR EVERYONE

STAKEHOLDERS CALL FOR ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNANCE TO ENSURE THE RIGHT TO HEALTH FOR EVERYONE

As part of its activities to mark the 2024 World Health Day with the theme ‘My Health, My Right’, the Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA) convened a global colloquium on the theme. The aim was to ensure that all stakeholders, especially from the civil society and nonstate actors are provided the unhindered opportunity to contribute to the discussion and concerns around the theme. At this Colloquium, AHOA made efforts to facilitate a cohesive platform where diverse stakeholders can engage, exchange knowledge, advocate for the ‘Right to Health’, and actively support the intentions of the World Health Organization (WHO) about World Health Days. Participants in the colloquium included stakeholders from various parts of the world, including Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Brazil, Eswatini, Kenya, Brazil, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Uganda, and Indonesia whose countries constitute 2,712,284,581 or about one-third (34%) of the world population.

Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA) is a global and community-focused CSO network and Think-tank of 2,424 organizations from 107 countries across all continental regions, with over 40,000 members in its Google Group, for the promotion of Development Work, Sustainable Development and Health - as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being. AHOA uses partnership/collaboration, advocacy, communication, research/evidence-generation, capacity development, outreaches, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) as strategies; to benefit rural and poor urban dwellers, marginalized, vulnerable and disadvantaged populations of women, children, youth, adolescents, people with disability, orphans and elderly. The AHOA Network explores the nexus between Health – UHC, PHC, HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria, NCDs, Vaccines and COVID-19; Energy and Environment - biodiversity, environment, ecosystems, renewable energy, energy efficiency, conservation and climate change; Nutrition/micronutrients and Food Security; Gender, Democracy, Good Governance and Human Rights. AHOA understands and explores the importance of shared understanding in combating all health and sustainable development challenges everywhere. Our strategies transcend any single entity or approach, and showcase the immense power of collaboration; various resources including local know-how, innovative scientific research, the empowerment of communities, and the concerted effort of AHOA members/partners and collaborators worldwide. AHOA is in Consultative Status at UN ECOSOC, and an Accredited Observer status at the UNEP/UNEA.

The participants discussed issues that affect the right to health including health financing, human resources for health (HRH), Health Worker Attitude, Awareness of the ‘Right to Health’, Health Education, Policies/Programmes/Pojects/Practices that promote the right to health, Availability and affordability of health services, Affordable Access to health facilities and services, Data management, Traditional and cultural practices, adverse impact of climate change on right to health, accountability/transparency in the health sector, governance, among others.

Participants discussed the World Health Organization's statement on the state of global health, highlighting the right to health for all as being increasingly threatened. There was agreement with the importance of health as a fundamental right, the need for universal and integral health, and the necessity to combat all forms of violence and exploitation. The conversation further touched upon other challenges facing healthcare, including inadequate infrastructure, and effective health insurance, advocacy for the voiceless, and immunization,

Of particular importance, participants discussed the citizens ‘health rights’/right to health as should be delivered through the stewardship role of the health governance and leadership systems, as well as human resources for health (HRH), while lamenting the persistent or recurring stockouts of essential medicines and health commodities. They regretted that these compel patients to purchase medications and commodities from pharmacies as hospitals do not usually have them, thus increasing out-of-pocket expenses and exacerbating poverty, ill health, morbidity, and mortality.  There are no reagents used to test viral load, NCDs, etc., even as the implementation of universal and compulsory Health Insurance in Nigeria remains unbelievably poor; clear evidence that changing the status of an entity does not translate to better services or improvement in performance, but only worsens the bureaucracy.

Regrettably, amid the high poverty of the patients and caregivers, service providers are not concentrating on delivering services due to their own hunger and poverty, where the official monthly minimum wage is about US$23 (Twenty-three US Dollars only), even as political office holders pay themselves unspecified humungous amounts in salaries and allowances, to the detriment of the people and development. The high cost of health services and consumables including anti-malaria, even in government health facilities, and high OOP expenses make patients/citizens reluctant to patronize the formal health sector and instead resort to traditional healers, prayer houses, and self-medications, resulting in several unnecessary deaths. This is very obvious because even government leaders refuse to patronize government hospitals.

It was agreed that Health and Food are the most important things for life; and maldistribution of health services, socioeconomic disparities, inadequate nutrition, and poor living conditions contribute to health inequities. These lead to mental health, abandonment, and suicides; even as government attention to health remains poor, especially considering the persistent poor funding below 15%, in most countries. Stakeholders strongly believed that there needed to be better data management and better/application of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare technology in several countries. Governments need to do more to manage the destructive effect of the climate crises on the right to health.

Getting things right by doing the right things

The stakeholders called for responsible and accountable governance and leadership to ensure that resources are diligently managed to provide and fund the citizens’ right to health. There should be a ban on using foreign healthcare facilities by serving government officials, who must transparently seek their health services from the same hospitals as the other citizens. “Ban government leaders from using non-government hospitals for themselves and families while in government.”.

One participant called for more awareness creation/sensitization of Muslim women on how to access care for both themselves and their children especially during immunization, as their rights. It was agreed that this also applies to many other non-Muslim women, their children, the elderly, people with disability, and vulnerable populations. “I think it is better to keep sensitizing women of childbearing age on the importance of hospital delivery to reduce the prevalence of Autism and reduce mortality rate,” said another participant.

It was re-echoed that lack of good leadership at the government level leads to denial of people's right to health; and that the fundamental need for effective health Insurance; governance and leadership are key; and advocacy for the voiceless, must remain prioritized until citizens are very aware of their rights to health and able to demand the right, effectively. Governments should use the opportunity of the forthcoming UNFCCC COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, to take concrete measures to tame the adverse effects of the climate crises on the right to health of their citizens.

Governments must show priority to their citizens’ right to health, provide the required infrastructure, and embark on policy reform and diligent implementation, including providing free and compulsory health insurance, free maternity service in most of our primary health care, basic needs such as clean water, nutritious food, adequate shelter, and proper sanitation which are essential for maintaining good health. Without these necessities, individuals are more susceptible to illness, malnutrition, and other health challenges and diseases of poverty. Therefore, addressing the basic needs of these communities is crucial for promoting their overall health and reducing health disparities. It requires concerted efforts from governments, partners, organizations, and communities to provide sustainable solutions and support to meet these essential needs to ensure the right to health for everyone.

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Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA) – CSO global Network and Think-tank for Health and Sustainable Development

Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje

CEO and Programmes Director