Date: Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Time : 03 pm to 04 pm
Venue: Zoom, Online (Register Now)

Background

Access to healthcare represents one of the major challenges in attaining development goals for LMICs. Each year, about 100 million people are pushed into poverty while 150 million people suffer financial catastrophe because of out of pocket payments for health services. In Cameroon, 70% of health care financing is endorsed by households through Out of pocket expenditure.

In an attempt to provide easy access to quality and affordable health care for each individual everywhere, the UN in 2012 endorsed a resolution urging countries to accelerate progress towards universal health coverage. In order to guarantee Cameroonians’ access to high-quality medical treatment while lowering household health costs, the government in 2015 initiated a process for the establishment of a universal health coverage (UHC) system. This process was further reinforced by the president of the republic who reaffirmed his committed to attaining this goal.

In April 2023, the first phase of UHC was officially launched in the Mandjou health district in Bertoua, Cameroon. The gradual implementation of this phase of UHC was targeted to reach 6 million people. The first phase of the project was largely focused on pregnant women in the Northern, Southern and Eastern regions as well as children below the age of five years who will receive treatment of simple and sever malaria for free. Also benefitting from this scheme are persons affected by HIV, tuberculosis, onchocerciasis and kidney failure. Regardless of one’s social status or nationality, anyone living in Cameroon will benefit from UHC phase 1.

One year after its implementation, how far has UHC gone in Cameroon, what have been the achievements, what have been the setbacks? As the country enters its second year of implementation in 2024, it is instructive to examine the progress made in the first year of this ambitious endeavor. This webinar will thus aim at examining the progress made so far regarding UHC in Cameroon.

Objectives

1. Discuss on the impact UHC had so far in ameliorating access to healthcare
2. Highlight the possible setbacks noticed so far in the UHC implementation in Cameroon?

Expected output

We are expecting to have a better view of the progression of UHC in Cameroon

Target Audience

This webinar is intended for researchers, public health specialists, health care professionals, university lecturers, students and health enthusiasts.

Venue

This panel discussion will be an online event hosted on the zoom platform and broadcasted on facebook. Moreover, the panel discussion will be recorded and published on Youtube.

Proposed Panelists

1) Adanze Nge Cynthia, Public Health Expert. Community health worker

2) Dr NOUDJI Simon, MPH, Head of Communication, Marketing and Promotion Section/CTN-CSU

3) Dr Yacoubou, Hamida, Public Health Administrator/Health Economist, MINSANTE

4) Mr Bihina Marc Romeo, Health Economist/ Public Policy analyst, (Camercap-parc)

Moderator: Ms. Solange Dabou

Commentator: Dr. Albert Ze