Poor investment in health financing and lack of sensitization on health services have impaired the quality health care initiatives in the country, experts have said.
Speaking during the National Community-Led Advocacy Forum, the stakeholders on Thursday said that through proper financing, community health provision would bridge the health services access gap by far to rich and vulnerable populations.
The two-day Forum in Naivasha, Nakuru County under the theme, ‘ Advocacy for Sustainable Health Financing towards Community-led Response’ aims to create awareness on key Community Health Systems Strengthening interventions, Primary Health Care,
Universal Health Coverage Bills and the role of communities towards sustainable health financing and advocate for improved sustainable financing and supportive laws, policies and practices for effective
community health service delivery.
The meeting also seeks to influence solution driven partnerships and collaborations to accelerate progress towards universal
health coverage.
Dr. Elizabeth Wangia, Director of Health Financing at the Ministry of Health highlighted the importance of health financing in realizing Universal Health Care (UHC) and acknowledged the need to accelerate progress towards sustainable domestic financing.
To leverage on resources, Dr. wangia called for partnership among development partners, the private sector and civil society organizations to address social determinants of health.
“Increased domestic investment in health through various means such as tax, social health insurance, and private investment is key to improving our health services,” she said.
On his part, Nakuru County Assembly Health Committee Chairperson pointed out the need for Civil Organization Groups to form Social Insurance Schemes for the vulnerable and emphasized on sensitization of communities to see the sense in health financing.
