23rd June, 2010
AMREF cautiously welcomes G8 commitment to maternal and newborn health
G8 member countries will commit $5 billion USD towards maternal and child health over the next five years. Though this is welcomed by AMREF, it is well below expectations.
In order to achieve real progress, previous commitments must be delivered and the total spend must be appropriately directed. G8 partner countries need to direct these funds to basic, frontline health services in sub-Saharan Africa in order to significantly improve the survival of women and children. AMREF’s experience demonstrates that a community-based approach is the most successful strategy for reducing deaths of mothers and children and is essential to achieving all health Millennium Development Goals. Further, African governments need to be supported and held accountable for their part in the delivery of health interventions in the communities.
“We know that having access to frontline health facilities in Africa that are adequately staffed with trained health workers result in dramatic and immediate improvements in the health of mothers and children,” according to Dr John Nduba, AMREF’s Director of Reproductive and Child Health. “Only healthy communities can begin to address issues of poverty and economic development.”
Specifically, AMREF recommends integrating NGOs and ministries of health in the design and delivery of primary health care services. To be effective, strategies must include the following:
- Address the crisis in shortages of health workers with training and support for the right mix of community health workers (midwives, nurses, health extension workers) who are paid a living wage and integrated into the formal national health systems
- Invest and maintain basic health facilities (health centres, dispensaries and clinics) with essential medical and pharmaceutical supplies
- Remove all direct and indirect user fees for women and children
- Ensure communities are full participants in the management of their health services
AMREF’s extensive and lengthy work in health development demonstrates that to achieve successful outcomes, health services must be organised and developed around communities as key participants. This must include the training of community members to act as bridges and facilitators with the formal health service. This approach results in acceptance and strong community engagement in better health for all.
“We must remember that Africa has 13 percent of the world’s population and 25 percent of the global disease burden but only 1.3 percent of the world’s health workforce,” said Dr Nduba, “AMREF’s experience in strengthening health development in Africa demonstrates that increasing investments in maternal and child health can achieve dramatic results.”
Read more about AMREF’s Stand up for African Mothers campaign