NAIROBI, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's Ministry of Health in partnership with VillageReach, an international health lobby, on Wednesday launched the Africa Regional Hub in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, to transform the delivery of primary health care services in the continent.
Gladys Mugambi, the head of the directorate of health promotion and education in the Ministry of Health, said the continental hub seeks to leverage digital tools, community engagement, peer learning and partnerships in a bid to ensure that preventive and promotive health services are available in hard-to-reach areas. She said the hub will foster innovation, research and collaboration required to achieve universal health coverage in the continent.
Mugambi noted that Kenya has enacted a progressive legislative and policy framework, harnessed data and emerging technologies in a bid to revolutionize healthcare services in remote corners of the country, adding that the Africa Regional Hub will serve as a launching pad for innovations and best practices that can be scaled up to reduce the continent's disease burden.
Through a partnership with VillageReach, Kenya's Ministry of Health has leveraged data and digital tools to address human resource gaps, and improve the supply of health commodities in the remote outposts, Mugambi said.
Emily Bancroft, VillageReach's chief executive officer, said the launch of the hub will enhance access to health products and services to marginalized demographics in the continent. In addition, said Bancroft, the hub is expected to strengthen the resilience of Africa's public health systems in the face of multiple shocks besides ensuring they are responsive to the needs of local communities.
She stressed that the creation of resilient supply chains, reskilling community-based workforce and investing in technology will be key to reducing maternal and infant mortality in Africa. ■