health services - The African Mirror

Feb

2021

Entrepreneur’s bold plan to overcome shortage of health services in Diepsloot

TANYA McCLEAN IT was when her own child fell ill at school that Agnes Pholose had a brainwave that was to become her business - a business which can mean the difference between life or death for a little one. And importantly, it also highlights the need for more efficient health services in townships. Pholose is the owner of Tshepohope Consulting based in Diepsloot, Johannesburg and offers a transport service, where she arranges to transport preschool and creche-going children to the clinic should they fall ill while at school and the parent/s are unable to take the child themselves. "My…

Nov

2020

By The African Mirror

Easing COVID-19 impact on key health services

COVID-19

THE COVID-19 pandemic has strained health systems and disrupted essential health services in Africa. Countries are working to restore and strengthen key services to better withstand shocks and ensure quality care. Regina Kamoga, the Executive Director of Uganda’s Community Health and Information Network and Chairperson of the Uganda Alliance of Patients Organizations, speaks about the impact of COVID-19 and solutions to restore essential health services. Regina Kamoga What is the impact of COVID-19 on patients seeking services for other diseases? Many governments in Africa took measures to combat the spread of COVID-19. However, some of the measures totally disrupted the…

Oct

2020

By The African Mirror

Insights into how the US abortion gag rule affects health services in Kenya

HEALTH

BONIFACE USHIE, Associate Research Scientist, African Population and Health Research Center SARA E CASEY, Assistant Professor, Columbia University Medical Center TERRY MCGOVERN, Professor, Columbia University Medical Center THE Mexico City Policy – often referred to as the “Global Gag Rule” – is a US government policy that requires non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that are not based in the US and that receive US global health assistance to certify that they will not provide, refer for, counsel on, or advocate for abortion as a method of family planning. The rule also applies to any non-US funding that the organisation may receive. The…

Sep

2020

By The African Mirror

COVID-19 can wipe out health care progress in short order – WHO

COVID-19

EMMA FARGE MORE than 90% of countries have seen ordinary health services disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with major gains in medical care attained over decades vulnerable to being wiped out in a short period, a World Health Organization survey showed. The Geneva-based body has frequently warned about other life-saving programmes being impacted by the pandemic and has sent countries mitigation advice, but the survey yielded the first WHO data so far on the scale of disruptions. “The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on essential health services is a source of great concern,” said a report on the study released…