My Age Africa recently engaged in the Civil Society Organization (CSO) Consultative Meeting concerning the National Health Strategy II. This pivotal meeting, organized through the collaborative efforts of PZAT, ACT, and the Zimbabwe Women’s Resource Centre and Network, served as a platform for critical discourse on the future of national health policy.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care (MOHCC) is currently undertaking the development of the National Health Strategy (NHS) 2026–2030, a successor to the NHS 2021–2025, which has now concluded.
For My Age Africa, this consultation represented a significant opportunity to contribute to the shaping of national health priorities. During the meeting, we underscored several key areas that we believe are essential for the success of the upcoming NHS.
A primary focus of our intervention was on Domestic Resource Mobilization. We emphasized the necessity of fortifying national health financing mechanisms, specifically highlighting the potential of the National Health Insurance scheme. To ensure its effectiveness, we recommended that the government proactively seek and incorporate lessons learned from international best practices, citing Rwanda as a relevant example.
Furthermore, we addressed the critical issue of Equity in Access to healthcare services. We strongly urged the government to maintain its focus on prioritizing vulnerable populations, recognizing that disparities in access persist. Data from the ZNASP IV End-Term Review Summary indicates that specific demographics, including men and adolescents, continue to experience significant gaps in healthcare access.
My Age Africa’s participation in this consultative meeting underscores our unwavering commitment to promoting inclusive and sustainable health policies.
We firmly believe that these policies must ensure that no individual or community is marginalized in the pursuit of improved health outcomes. We remain dedicated to actively contributing to the development and implementation of strategies that advance this vital objective.
