Universal Access to Healthcare key in attaining SDGs

Mr Nii Akunu Annorbar-Sarpei, Programmes Manager for the Alliance for Reproductive Health Rights, has observed that Universal Access to Healthcare Coverage was a catalyst for the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Mr Annorbar-Sarpei made the observation during a training programme organized by the Universal Access to Healthcare Campaign (UAHCC) held in Tamale, the Northern Regional capital.

Buttressing his point, the Programmes Manager explained that Universal Access to Health Coverage had direct connections with the Goal three of the SDGs, which is to “Ensure Healthy lives and promote well-being for all ages”.

He stressed that aside the goal three of the SDGs, it would be difficult to attain the rest of the 16 goals of the SDGs, if serious attention was not paid to the Universal Access to Healthcare Coverage.

Mr Annorbar-Sarpei stated that the most disturbing health related issue such as Family Planning was not captured in the National Health Insurance Scheme.

“Unsafe abortions account for close to 65 per cent of maternal deaths in this country. Our adolescents’ reproductive rights which is a human rights issue is not given the attention it deserves,” he stressed.

The Programme Manager, advocated the inclusion of family planning into the NHIS, and expressed worry that there was the likelihood that development partners like the USAID and UNFPA who assist reproductive health related issues in Ghana may withdraw their support as a result of the new leadership of the United States and their policies.

He stated that it was high time the government gave special attention to reproductive health related issues by mobilizing enough internally generated revenue to address the issue, instead of depending on donor funding.

Mr Annorbar-Sarpei who made a presentation on Public Healthcare in Ghana, Policy Context and Implementation: a history Perspective, stressed the need for paradigm shift from curative to preventive care.

He further proposed that to help Ghana make impact on the attainment of the SDGs, there was the need for Government and the Ministry of Health to ensure that all the CHPs compounds become more functional with modern equipment and human resources.

The Programme Manager urged the stakeholders at the forum to endeavor to study the policy documents on health related issues to enable them embark upon advocacy programs effectively.