Community Working Group on Health
Following a six week strike by health professionals; a group of organisations identified that community participation was a top down phenomenon, inadequately driven by an uninformed and public, with inadequate mechanisms for community participation in health, yet decline in quality of health services.
Community Working Group on Health
Thus CWGH began a programme of work to disseminate information and organize civic members on health in 1998.
Community Working Group on Health
CWGH is a network of 35 organisations that strives to be a leader in the achievement of equity and accessibility in health and wellness for communities through an empowered membership through community participation in Health.
CWGH MOTTO
Health is your Right and Responsibility
All for Health
Programmes
Civic education programmeGender, HIV and Aids
ProgrammeAdolescent Reproductive
Health Education Programme
Civic education programme Aims at exchanging and sharing
information on current developments within health systems
Focuses on the most common health problems experienced by rural and urban people in Zimbabwe
Makes input of community perspectives, positions and experiences to statutory health structures at national level, including commissions of inquiry and health boards
Civic Education on Health
Advocacy – lobbying the parliamentary health portfolio committee and other relevant equality with position papers based on good practices and mobilization of district health committees
Raise concerns, issues and positions with health care providers at local and central level
Community Working Group on Health
CWGH has a vision that seeks to transform the health delivery system of Zimbabwe
Our approach is to change the mindset of people regarding health by stimulating communities to get into self drive and be able to recognize health challenges and act on them
How CWGH Organises People for HealthOrganizing People’s power for
HealthChampioning Peoples’ Power for
HealthStrengthening people’s Power for
HealthConsolidating People’s Power for
Health
Community Working Group on Health
Chikwaka Health Centre Committe
Bindura Nyava Health Centre Committe
Gweru CWGH
How CWGH Organises for Health
Lobby government to align its budgetary allocations in line with commitments made in different agreements e.g. Abuja Declaration (2001)
Write position papers to policy makers startng from grassroot level
Cont……
CWGH members in district carry out research on Health Basket…..
Compile cost of health Engage MP’s and health authorities Pre-Budget meetings Organize the People to take up there
own activities
Organising For Health
Allocation to include parameters such as disease burden, population density etc not per province
Analyse other policies that can be bottleneck to health services or where health services can be improved and make necessary recommendations, e.g. Health Services Board
Challenges
Political Interference Declining economy changing mindset of
people Priorities of ARMY vs Health
PHC was incorporated into health policy and development plans… but……
Rapid urbanisation Emergence and re-emergence of
communicable and non-communicable diseasesEspecially HIV
Low investments Increased disparities in access to basic
social services Conflicts Adverse external conditions Poor governance Declining national economic performance
High debt burdenDeteriorating terms of trade
Food Shortages Increased levels of malnutrition
LiteracyZimbabwe had a good educational
policy, but now there are problems POVERTY
50% living on <$1/day increased in the last five years
COMPULSORY LICENSINGDeclaration of Period of Emergency HIV/AIDS
Notice 2002Declaration of period of emergency to enable the
state or person authorised by the Minister;a) To make or use any patented drug, including
any retroviral drugs, used in the treatment of persons suffering from HIV?AIDS or HIV related conditions;
b) To import any generic drug used in the treatment of persons suffering from HIV/AIDS or HIV/AIDS related conditions
Therefore……..
3 Zimbabwean companies have been granted licences to manufacture or import generic alternative ARVs
ARVsmore available in the public and private sector
Drug price has also become significantly cheaper than other imported brand drugs
Backdrop of foreign currency shortages/ hyperinflation- a scenario where most people cannot afford medicines
Future Plans
Launch the National People’s Health Movement
Continue with our campaign on Rights to Health
Celebrate 30 years of Alma Arta together with 10th Anniversary of CWGH
You Can Visit us @114 McChlery Avenue
Eastlea, Harare, Zimbabwe.Tel: +263(04) 776 989/ 788 100/ 788 099
Fax: +263 (04) 788 [email protected]
Regional Offices 706 Old Mutual Building
7th Floor, Old Mutual Building Cnr Jason Moyo/ 8th Avenue
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Top Related