In October 2007 EQUINET has produced a regional equity analysis that offers a comprehensive, yet accessible, resource presented through text, tables, figures, case studies, quotes and images. The evidence in this analysis points to three ways in which ‘reclaiming’ the resources for health can improve health equity:
• for poor people to claim a fairer share of national resources to improve their health;
• for a more just return for east and southernAfrican countries from the global economy to increase the resources for health; and
• for a larger share of global and national resources to be invested in redistributive health systems to overcome the impoverishing effects of ill health.
The book can be obtained from EQUINET by contacting admin@equinetafrica.org or through the publishers in the region, that is Weaver Press weaver@mweb.co.zw; Fountain Publishers (for East African region) sales@fountainpublishers.co.ug and Jacana (for South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland) sales@jacana.co.za.
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A reminder to all who have registered that the third EQUINET Regional Conference on Equity in Health in East and Southern Africa is coming up next month! It provides a unique opportunity to hear original work and debate on the determinants of, challenges to and opportunities for equity in health in this region. The programme is broad and covers a range of topics including claiming rights to health, equitable health services, women’s health and social empowerment in health systems. Other main topics include retaining health workers, primary health care, developing and using participatory approaches, resourcing health systems fairly, building parliamentary alliances and people's power in health, policy engagement for health equity, trade and health, access to health care and monitoring equity. We will also show how to build country alliances and conduct regional networking. A post-conference workshop will be held on BANG (bits, atoms, neurons and genes), billed the Next Technological Challenge to Africa’s Health and Well-being. Further activities associated with the conference include photographic displays and skills meetings.
The EQUINET book 'Reclaiming the Resources for Health: A regional analysis of equity in health in East and Southern Africa' published in late 2007 is now available as an electronic download on this site at http://www.equinetafrica.org/bibl/docs/EQUINET%20Reclaiming%20the%20Resources%20for%20Health%20in%20ESA.pdf The book is a resource for researchers, policy makers and health activists and highlights challenges and opportunities for improving health equity in east and southern Africa,
* for poor people to claim a fairer share of national resources for their health;
* for a more just return for ESA countries from the global economy to increase the resources for health; and
* for a larger share of global and national resources to be invested in redistributive health systems.
It is six years since EQUINET was formed to support the Southern African Development community (SADC) in its commitment to secure equity in health. In those six years many challenges have been faced, much has been achieved and much remains to be done. This report from the EQUINET steering committee faces the future squarely in the eye. It details the opportunities for equity that lie in the region and highlights the obstacles to equity that we must confront. It offers a vision of health systems that serve equity. It presents a rallying call for those striving to work for justice hand in hand with the poor and marginalised.
Temos o conhecimento, habilidade, e experiência de superar desigualidades persistentes na saúde na Africa Oriental e Austral. Esta análise providencia uma mensagem inspiradora e emposada, explorando vários aspectos da saúde e sistemas da saúde e fornecendo muitos exemplos de boa prática na região. A evidência dentro desta análise aponta para três formas em quais reclamando os recursos para a saúde pode melhorar a equidade da saúde. Estas são: para as pessoas pobres reclamar uma divisão mais justa dos recursos nacionais a fim de melhorar a sua saúde; para um regresso mais justo para Africa Oriental e Austral da economia global a fim de aumentar os recursos para a saúde; e para uma divisão mais ampla dos recursos nacionais e globais para serem investidos nos sistemas redistribuitivos da saúde a fim de superar os efeitos empobrecidos da má-saúde. Embora a imagem de saúde da Africa Oriental e Austral está actualmente triste, com taxas altas de mortalidade, baixa esperança da vida e cargas altas de subalimentação, HIV e SIDA, tuberculose (TB) e malaria, a mensagem que emerge deste livro é uma de esperança e reconhecimento das nossas forças e possibilidades para acções.
This document presents the recommendations of the EQUINET–ECSA HC regional meeting on health worker retention in east and southern Africa (ESA) was held in Windhoek, Namibia from 25-27 February 2009 hosted by University of Namibia, and involving delegates from government, academic and research institutions, health worker organisations, parliament and civil society from ten ESA countries and from regional organisations including SADC and WHO. The recommendations cover proposals for policy options, guidelines and further research on health worker retention, migration, on health worker orientation and roles in primary health care and task shifting.
The Learning Network for Health and Human Rights, in conjunction with the Network on Equity in Health in East and Southern Africa (EQUINET) will be holding a 2-day regional consultation on the role of Health Committees in Equitable, People-centred Health Systems in the Southern and East African region as a satellite meeting linked to the 3rd Global Symposium on Health Systems Research. The regional consultation will take place in Cape Town on Sat 27th and Sun 28th of September 2014 at the University of Cape Town and is funded by a grant from the International Development Research Council. The meeting has been called to share experiences from the southern and east Africa region of community participation in health systems governance through health committees. The focus of the consultation is on health committees as a strategy for realising the right to health and strengthening health systems. The consultation will build on previous meetings by the different partners in Kampala, Kiboga and Harare over the past 4 years. The target participants are those who have experience of working with health committees and community participation structures.
The Regional EQUINET meeting on health literacy in the mining sector is being held on March 28 and 29 2019 in Harare to discuss health literacy outreach for workers, communities and ex mineworkers in the mining sector. We will be sharing information on the scope of and groups covered in current mining and health capacity building programmes; the methods for and use of the EQUINET health literacy module on Mining and health and co-operation on key upcoming regional processes on health in mining. The meeting involves EQUINET (TARSC, SEATINI); Botswana Federation of Trade Unions; Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, Southern African Trade Union Co-ordinating Council, Benchmarks Foundation South Africa, Swaziland Migrant Mineworkers Association, Eswatini and BoLAMA Botswana. For those interested in further follow up health literacy training in the Mining sector being held later in 2019 please contact the EQUINET secretariat.
PART ONE OF A BOOK IN TWO PARTS. An Equity Watch is a means of monitoring progress on health equity by gathering, organizing, analysing, reporting and reviewing evidence on equity in health. This 2012 Regional Equity Analysis updates the 2007 EQUINET Regional analysis of equity in health, drawing on the Equity Watch framework developed by EQUINET in cooperation with the East, Central and Southern African Health Community and in consultation with WHO and UNICEF, with some modifications given its regional nature. The report provides evidence from 16 countries in East and Southern Africa, including more detailed evidence from the country Equity Watch reports on: policy, political and legal commitments to equity in health; the current situation with respect to equity in health outcomes; economic opportunities and challenges for health equity; household access to the resources for health and the social determinants of health; challenging inequities through redistributive health systems and global (in)justice and the issues for global engagement. The analysis shows past levels and current levels (most current data publicly available) and comments on the level of progress towards health equity. It raises the factors affecting progress and the challenges to be addressed. The analysis intends to be a comprehensive resource. As the report watches and supports progress, and not simply problems, it includes brief outlines of approaches being taken within the region to advance equity that appear to be yielding progress, with references where further information can be found. Finally, the report presents reflection on the experience of implementing equity analysis at country and regional level and on the experience of the Country Equity Watch work in institutionalising planning and monitoring for health equity.
PART TWO OF A BOOK IN TWO PARTS. This is part 2 of the 2012 Regional Equity Analysis. The report provides evidence from 16 countries in East and Southern Africa, including more detailed evidence from the country Equity Watch reports on: policy, political and legal commitments to equity in health; the current situation with respect to equity in health outcomes; economic opportunities and challenges for health equity; household access to the resources for health and the social determinants of health; challenging inequities through redistributive health systems and global (in)justice and the issues for global engagement. The analysis shows past levels and current levels (most current data publicly available) and comments on the level of progress towards health equity. It raises the factors affecting progress and the challenges to be addressed. The analysis intends to be a comprehensive resource. As the report watches and supports progress, and not simply problems, it includes brief outlines of approaches being taken within the region to advance equity that appear to be yielding progress, with references where further information can be found.