Last week, The Ministry of Health and PATH Kenya voiced their commitment to advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and strengthening healthcare delivery throughout the country. The implicit effects of these reforms are monumental, especially in regards to Kenya’s future in health outcomes.
Access to healthcare remains a challenge to millions of people in the world, especially for those who are low-income and struggle to tackle the barriers. For many, the financial burdens prevent them from meeting their basic needs. As per a United Nations Development Program report, about 36% of Kenyans live below the national poverty line. In Kashani, where Zawadi is based, over half the population is included in that statistic.
To put that into perspective, that’s millions of people everyday who have little to no access to the resources they need to live fulfilling and healthy lives. And it’s no different across the globe too. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 4.5 billion people were not fully covered by essential health services in 2021, with 344 million people going deeper into extreme poverty due to health costs.
This is why UHC plays a crucial role in ensuring that everyone, regardless of financial situation, has full access to the health services they need. Not only can UHC avert the risk of poverty and its dire long-lasting effects, but it can save families and strengthen communities.
However, the path to a world where everyone has quality healthcare is not an easy one. There lately has been a clear stagnation of improvements to healthcare coverage globally. Health systems must be strengthened and reformed to make a drastic move toward UHC. And all over the world, countries—Kenya being one of them—are starting to invest more in UFC through the implementation of different strategies.
The push toward primary health care
At the forefront of this battle toward UFC stands primary health care (PHC), which according to WHO is “the most inclusive, equitable, cost-effective and efficient approach to enhance people’s physical and mental health [and] social well-being.”
Primary health care covers around 80% of a person’s health needs during their lifetime, and about 90% of essential UHC interventions can be delivered through primary health care. A PHC-oriented system covers not only the treatment of illnesses, but emphasizes disease prevention and health promotion as well. By delivering a wide range of accessible and necessary health services to people, PHC aims to keep people healthy throughout their entire lives.
A people-centered approach
The promise of a PHC-focused world is ideal; its integration into our communities is even more important. Primary health care has to be inclusive and meet the needs of everybody for it to work. Putting the spotlight on the people, as opposed to focusing on merely treating illnesses or diseases, ensures that no one’s health concerns go unnoticed. It guarantees that everyone can access the best tailored solutions to their problems.
At Zawadi’s clinic, we prioritize our patients through localized PHC. This includes inclusive pricing as well as personalized care for Mombasa’s residents. Aspects like these help make healthcare as accessible as possible for patients, which is especially impactful for those who live in marginalized and underprivileged communities.
More countries have been prioritizing PHC by developing new and more people-centered health service models. At the recent meeting, Health Cabinet Secretary Dr. Deborah Barasa highlighted the necessity to enhance health service delivery in Kenya through methods such as training community health promoters. Implementing changes like this—engaging with communities and prioritizing their particular needs—is how we can better work toward equal and accessible healthcare systems.
Saving money…and lives
One of the largest barriers we face when trying to reach world-wide healthcare is the financial insecurities and inequalities that come with paying and receiving health services. Some populations are more disadvantaged than others, whether that be due to their socioeconomic background, race, gender, etc. Those who falter under the pressure of burdensome costs for basic health services may not be able to receive the help they need. These disparities can cost millions of lives.
Kenya taking initiative to expand health insurance is one large step in the right direction, but there is still a lot of work to be done. As Dr. Barasa emphasized, “partnerships are essential for the success of Kenya’s UHC reforms.” Governments and nonprofits must work together to break down these financial barriers and ease the transition toward accessible healthcare for everyone. The global community must continue to prioritize making the world a healthier and fairer place, with people at the forefront of it all.
