The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in partnership with the Ghana Ministry of Health, the National Health Insurance Authority, and the World Health Organization, has organized a five-day workshop aimed at advancing universal healthcare in Africa. The event commenced on February 15, 2016, at the Mövenpick Hotel in Accra, Ghana, and will continue until February 19. It gathers over 150 participants from government bodies, civil society, and private sectors of countries such as Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Togo and Uganda. Key speakers include Robert P. Jackson, U.S. Ambassador to Ghana; Ariel Pablos-Mendez from USAID; Honorable Alex Segbefia from the Ghana Ministry of Health; along with experts from international organizations like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Titled "Africa Regional Peer-Learning Workshop on Country Approaches to Risk-Pooling for Attaining Universal Health Coverage," this workshop encourages dialogue and exchange of knowledge among attendees about healthcare strategies. Its primary aim is to educate policymakers on effective methods for achieving universal healthcare while focusing on financial risk protection.
Ghanaian officials are presenting their experiences in expanding and enhancing their national health care quality during this workshop. The country's National Health Insurance Scheme covers approximately 40 percent of its population and is praised globally for ensuring equitable access to basic health services. USAID supports this scheme by helping improve management systems, implementing a new provider payment system, monitoring improvements effectively, engaging with various health care providers and increasing both quality and scope of care provided.
"Change is possible when we partner together and learn from each other. The U.S. government through USAID collaborates closely with the National Health Insurance Agency to support its financial sustainability increase enrollment and improve effective coverage of quality health services," stated Ambassador Jackson.
These efforts align with USAID's integrated Health Population Nutrition Program goals aimed at enhancing health outcomes across Ghana through improved leadership governance capacity building within the sector.
USAID stands as a leading agency under U.S governance dedicated towards eradicating extreme global poverty fostering resilient democratic societies worldwide For more than five decades it has contributed significantly towards boosting food security improving basic healthcare education access strengthening local governance structures benefiting Ghanaians broadly