PHM Africa Learning Space

By CWGH  THE current stalemate between government and the striking doctors over poor working conditions, poor remuneration and absence of the tools of trade has taken too long to address and has caused untold suffering and deaths across the country. Doctors in the country’s public health institutions have been on strike since August this year. So far, the government fired at least 435 doctors after they turned down its offer of 70% salary increment. An offer by telecommunication mogul Strive Masiyiwa’s Higherlife Foundation to pay the doctors has divided the striking medical practitioners, who fall under the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors’ Association (ZHDA). A splinter association with suspected links to the government, the Progressive Doctors’ Association of Zimbabwe (PDAZ), was launched recently to represent those willing to go back to work, further complicating the dialogue process. The Community Working Group on Health (CWGH), which is mediating in the protracted labour disput

A small group from the People’s Health Movement South Africa protested in front of parliament highlighting the lack of access to affordable and healthy food and the burden of malnutrition, undernutrition and obesity in South Africa.  Read more on Daily Maverick: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2019-12-10-protesters-demand-that-poor-communities-have-access-to-healthy-food/

Maziko Matemba from PHM Malawi appointed as the Community Health Ambassador in Malawi on UHC Day. PHM Malawi attended the commemorations including the launch of the Community and Primary Health Care acceleration plan.

As we mark the International Universal Health Coverage day, December 12 , under the theme “Keep the Promise”, it is crucial to highlight the World Health Organization (WHO)’s policy incoherence regarding misoprostol and mifepristone. Is the WHO keeping the promise of delivering universal health for all? WHO’s policy incoherence regarding the status of misoprostol and mifepristone constitutes a significant barrier to wider access to safe medical abortion. WHO must keep the promise of UHC and unequivocally endorse prompt low cost access to misoprostol and mifepristone including appropriate advice on usage and precautions. This comment addresses the global issue taking Uganda as a case study.   Access to essential health care is the ‘promise’ of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). It is also a fundamental human right. The mortality burden globally associated with unsafe abortion is horrendous and could be dramatically reduced if prompt low cost access to safe medical abortion was