UNICEF East Asia and Pacific’s Post

Notable Health Programs in Ethiopia by EPHI Community-Based Health Insurance (CBHI): This program is designed to provide health coverage for rural communities who otherwise might not afford healthcare. It helps improve access to essential services. Ethiopia’s Health Extension Program (HEP): This program aims to improve basic health services in rural areas through the deployment of health extension workers who provide services at the household level. It includes maternal and child health education, sanitation, and disease prevention. Universal Health Coverage (UHC): EPHI is involved in advancing the Ethiopian government's goal of achieving UHC by improving access to healthcare services and reducing financial barriers to healthcare. School Health Programs: These programs focus on improving the health of school-aged children, including initiatives around sanitation, nutrition, and sexual and reproductive health education.

MAMII Officially Activated in Edo State! After a rigorous week-long workshop, the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII) has been officially activated in Edo State. Throughout the week, participants engaged in intensive sessions — from capacity building and field visits across selected communities to data review and collaborative planning. The workshop culminated in the development of a comprehensive action plan, which has now been formally handed over to the Edo State Ministry of Health for implementation. This marks a significant step forward in our collective commitment to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality and strengthen health systems at the community level. Together, we move closer to ensuring that no woman dies while giving life and that every newborn has a healthy start. #MAMII #PublicHealth #MaternalHealth #NeonatalHealth #EdoState #HealthInnovation #CommunityHealth #NigeriaHealth #SustainableDevelopment #HealthForAll Muhammad Ali Pate Muntaqa Umar-sadiq National Health Fellows National Health Insurance Authority of Nigeria National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) SWAp Coordination Office Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare Nigeria

This week on Care City Weekly: It is great to know that #innovation is taking centre stage in African healthcare, from Nigeria's first Health Insurance Radio to Codix Bio's move to locally produce HIV and malaria test kits. We also explored how: African nations are turning global health funding cuts into new opportunities. Public–private hospital partnerships could expand access and lower costs Rising antibiotic resistance is reshaping global health priorities. And for healthcare entrepreneurs, discover our brand-new Care City Media Kit, designed to help small- and medium-sized healthcare brands grow with expert digital support. Read Here: https://lnkd.in/dcXWsxHd

In this news feature, Dr Dayo Adeyanju, National Lead of the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII), along with Lagos State health officials, discussed how the initiative is transforming maternal and newborn health across Nigeria. Dr. Adeyanju highlighted the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) as a key driver of MAMII’s impact — strengthening coordination, resource mobilization, and alignment between federal and state efforts. The report also highlights the community outreach at Ogba Primary Health Centre, where mothers were sensitized on the importance of accessing maternal healthcare services and facilities available to them. MAMII is turning collaboration into impact — one state, one community, and one mother at a time. 🎥 Watch and enjoy! #MAMII #MaternalHealth #NeonatalHealth #NigeriaHealth Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare Nigeria Lagos State Government National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) National Health Insurance Authority of Nigeria Dr. Lawal Bakare

🌍 World Palliative Care Day 2025 Theme: Achieving the Promise: Universal Access to Palliative Care Every year, this day reminds us that quality palliative care is a right. Yet in Ghana, universal access to palliative care (PC) remains far from achieved. We cannot achieve universal access without integrating palliative care into our primary healthcare system. Over the past years, I have dedicated my time to research the integration of palliative care in Ghana: 1. https://lnkd.in/dfxTDeSg 2. https://lnkd.in/dqtKuzmh 3. https://lnkd.in/dY-sqKRp 4. https://lnkd.in/dUBPj-QZ 5. https://lnkd.in/dCe9MbgB 6. https://lnkd.in/dNkKqJ-x 7. https://lnkd.in/dNYMj8KV 8. https://lnkd.in/dfSzVtb9 The findings reveal that many patients are referred for palliative care too late, often when curative options are exhausted. Structural and financial barriers limit access, as services remain concentrated in tertiary hospitals and are largely excluded from the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). If we truly want universal access, integration is the way forward. That means: ✅ Training all primary care providers in basic PC principles. ✅ Including PC under the National Health Insurance Scheme. ✅ Ensuring essential medicines (like morphine) are available at community levels. ✅ Developing national referral and integration guidelines. ✅ Investing in community awareness to reshape perceptions of PC. World Health Organization Africa CDC African Palliative Care Association Palliative Care Australia International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care (IAHPC) Ghana Health Service JORC GH International End-of-Life Doula Association (INELDA) Research Centre for Palliative Care, Death and Dying (RePaDD) Sage #research #WorldPalliativeCareDay #PalliativeCare #UniversalHealthCoverage #PublicHealth #Ghana #PrimaryHealthCare #HealthSystemsStrengthening #JoshuaOkyere

From Medicaid Cuts to rural health funds, we examine key policy issues for seniors housing professionals to track as the new administration settles in and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act's provisions take effect. https://lnkd.in/eaevf_Wb #SeniorsHousing #OBBBA

How do we fund health where it matters most — in Nigeria’s rural communities? Rural health systems across Nigeria face chronic underfunding, leaving millions without reliable access to care. Despite policies like the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the gap between commitment and reality remains wide. Our latest blog by Faridah Abdullahi, unpacks the state of healthcare funding in Nigeria, exploring what works, what doesn’t, and how we can build a more equitable system for rural populations. Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/dD3w_s4b #RuralHealth #HealthcareFunding #UniversalHealthCoverage #NigeriaHealth #WARH

Medicines and Mismanagement: A Wake-Up Call for Botswana’s Health System On 25 August 2025, Botswana declared a public health emergency not as a symbolic act, but as overdue recognition that our health system is under severe strain. Persistent medicine shortages are not isolated incidents; they reflect deep structural weaknesses in how medicines are procured, stored, and delivered, with serious consequences for people’s health and well-being. Transparency must be the starting point. Mixed signals from celebratory media events about donations to leaked memos requesting basic supplies have undermined public confidence. The continued silence of key officials has further deepened public concern. In moments of crisis, leadership visibility, honesty, and accountability are not optional; they are essential. Urgent reform of the Central Medical Stores (CMS) is critical. A well-designed Health Emergency Medicines Fund, free from political interference and guided by strong oversight, must be matched by a real-time national stock-visibility dashboard to track supplies from CMS to every clinic. Equally, the BDC-managed Unity Health Fund must be transparent: open tenders, price disclosure, independent audits, and a clear plan to settle the P1 billion owed to suppliers are non-negotiable. As Botswana advances plans for National Health Insurance (NHI), discussed at the 9 October 2025 consultations, sequencing becomes vital. Without reliable procurement, transparent financing, and real-time data, NHI risks becoming a payment system chasing medicines that are not there. It is also time for the Brigadier Tom Masunga Task Force to account for its mandate, activities, and progress. A joint press briefing with the Minister, Permanent Secretary, and Director of Health Services would strengthen transparency and restore public trust. The path forward is clear: stabilise the supply chain first, ensure accountability at all levels, and then build NHI on a strong and reliable foundation. Only then can Botswana shift from crisis management to a resilient, equitable health system that earns the trust of its people. #BotswanaHealth #MedicinesSecurity #NHI #HealthSystems #Transparency #Governance #Accountability #UHC #PublicPolicy #Leadership

Choosing the right Medicare plan can feel overwhelming for many. When comparing options, consider factors such as: -Cost -Coverage for current providers and prescriptions -Fit with health needs and lifestyle DeafHealth, with support from Patient Advocate Foundation and Pfizer, has created American Sign Language (ASL) Medicare videos to help deaf communities better understand Medicare coverage, benefits, and how to confidently use insurance. Topics include Medicare Parts A, B, C, D, and Medigap plans. Access the guides and resources here: ASL Medicare Guide: https://lnkd.in/g9fV_FzX English Medicare Guide: https://lnkd.in/gQHyNsq9 Medicare Resources Sheet: https://lnkd.in/gFV4E5BR Empowering ourselves with the right information is the first step toward confident healthcare decisions. Stay Informed: We’ve got you covered! Sign up with your email at https://lnkd.in/e6AAs9bk or follow us on social media for new and current health updates. #Medicare #HealthcareEducation #HealthAccess . . . #LearnFromDeafPeople #ASL #Deaf #AmericanSignLanguage #SignLanguage #DeafEcosystem #DeafAwareness #DeafCommunity #DeafPride #DeafCulture #DeafWellness #Communication #Health #Access #ASLVideos #DeafHealth [VD: The post has a video thumbnail with blue shading overlaid. The top middle has "Medicare: Comparing Plans” in white text with light blue background, accompanied by a yellow bubble with “Medicare” in blue. In the video: A nonbinary person with long, curly brown hair stands in front of the camera. Behind them is a light brown leather couch and a blue built-in bookshelf wall. They are wearing jeans, a charcoal shirt layered with a forest green vest, and a black bolo tie featuring a gold bee. Transcript is available in the comments section.]

From local solidarity to national coverage: Rwanda’s CBHI journey In the aftermath of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, Rwanda faced immense healthcare challenges. Community-Based Health Insurance (CBHI) began as a grassroots solution — and today, it covers over 91% of the population. Vulnerable families now have access to essential services, out-of-pocket spending has been slashed, and healthcare visits have multiplied sixfold since 2001. Behind this success: strong government leadership, community mobilisation, and a financing model that matches contributions to income levels. A new AHOP policy brief explores Rwanda’s CBHI story, its lessons for other countries, and the steps needed to sustain it from improving quality of care to reducing co-payments for low-income groups. 📄 Read and download the brief summary here: https://bit.ly/43xlECh #GlobalHealth #UHC #Rwanda #CommunityHealth #EquityInHealth University of Rwanda