A crucial component of UHC is equitable access to vaccines. In Uganda unreliable vaccine data has hindered immunization efforts, limiting access to essential vaccines for vulnerable populations. To address this gap, a targeted project was launched in Karamoja to enhance vaccine data reliability. We discover the lessons learned with Dr. Joseph Katetemera, Technical Advisor at Doctors with Africa CUAMM.
The African climate is experiencing warming at a faster rate than the global average, generating a rise in infectious diseases, food insecurity, internal migration and inequalities. Strengthening health systems and adaptation strategies is the first line of defense in tackling these worsening social and health crises.
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In the face of countless challenges on the global agenda – from conflicts and political and economic crises to fast-moving changes of every sort – Doctors with Africa CUAMM remains laser-focused on the most critical issues for vulnerable communities: health service access, equity and coverage.
Universal health coverage in 2024 presents a stark balance sheet. Only a handful of countries worldwide have made progress toward the goal of making health services more accessible to their citizens; most continue to fall behind.
Non-communicable diseases – a group of medical conditions responsible for 74% of global deaths each year, killing approximately 41 million people – represent one of the most pressing health challenges of our time, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Doctors with Africa CUAMM has been working since 2022 to implement the WHO PEN-Plus model of care. Aimed at expanding access to services for those living with severe noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in poor rural areas in resource-limited countries, the strategy also points up the importance of achieving universal health coverage (UHC) in such settings.
Working effectively in a resource-limited setting requires a deep understanding of that setting, and the ability to act in ways that are best suited to it. This is especially true when it comes to developing health strategies and innovations in such areas. CUAMM’s work on managing NCD treatments in Tanzania highlights the importance of knowing how to adapt interventions to specific socioeconomic contexts.
Mental health has become a significant global health issue. Mental distress and disorders harm the psychophysical well-being of those affected by them; however, it is not easy to take care of one’s own mental health. This is especially true in the case of adolescents, particularly African youth living in challenging environments. A study in Beira, Mozambique, analyzes a psychodrama intervention among adolescents.
The focus on universal health coverage is relevant not only to limited-resource countries, but also to those affected by conflict, which erodes national health systems. A prime example is Ukraine, where the ongoing war has made continuity of care, especially for noncommunicable diseases, increasingly difficult. While CUAMM’s long-term focus is on Africa, we are also addressing this health crisis at Europe's doorstep.