Malawi urged to reform health financing model
As the country is commemorating Africa Vaccination Week, Health and Rights Education Programme-Malawi (Hrep-Malawi) has called on government to consider reforming the health financing model in use.
The organisation says the reformation will enable the country to continue sustaining the excellent immunisation coverage gains and the overall healthcare delivery service in meeting the universal coverage goals for all people.
In a statement, Maziko Matemba, the organisation’s executive director, has said this year’s theme of ‘shared responsibility’ correlate well with Malawi as it has come at the time the country is about to go through the tripartite elections.
“Currently, Malawi has an excellent immunisation record with over 90 percent coverage of antigens,” said Matemba.
Matemba said there are strong rationales for governments to invest in immunisation as vaccines have been shown to be a ‘best buy’ for health resources.
“Immunisation is a low cost and effective way of preventing child deaths and disability compared with other priority health interventions,” he said.
In the 58th session of the World Health Assembly of the WHO, member States endorsed Resolution WHA58.33, which urges countries to strive towards sustainable health financing.