B u i l d i n g r e s i l i e n c e i n h e a l t h s y s t ems i n Af r i c a Commonwealth Health Partnerships 2015 59 intervention, focus on broader health system strengthening is essential if long-term efficiency, sustainability and, ultimately, selfsufficiency are to be realised (HoC IDC, 2014). This means that an increasingly system-centric focus is required. Somewhat paradoxically, it was the Ebola outbreak and the resultant devastation that has demonstrated this so acutely. I am reminded of something President of Ghana John Dramani Mahama said during his speech to the 69th General Assembly of the United Nations in September 2014: ‘True progress relies on neither victory nor defeat, but on persistence, on perseverance.’ As West Africa and the wider continent emerge from this dark and terrible catastrophe, we must indeed persevere. Then and only then can we show the world that Africa is indeed rising. References Boozary, A. S., Farmer, P. E. and Jha, A. K., 2014. ‘The Ebola outbreak, fragile health systems and quality as a cure’. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 312, pp. 1859–1860. British Council, 2014. Can Higher Education Solve Africa’s Job Crisis? Understanding Graduate Employability in Sub-Saharan Africa. London: British Council FHWC (Frontline Health Workers Coalition), 2014. A Commitment to Community Health Workers: Improving Data for Decision- Making. New York: FHWC. HoC IDC (House of Commons International Development Committee), 2014. Strengthening Health Systems in Developing Countries. Fifth Report of Session 2014–15. Available at: www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmselect/cmintdev/ 246/246.pdf Accessed 7 April 2015. Kieny, M. P. and Dovlo, D., 2015. ‘Beyond Ebola: A new agenda for resilient health systems’. The Lancet, 385, pp. 91–92. Lehman, U. and Sanders, D., 2007. ‘Community health workers: What do we know about them?’. Geneva: WHO. Ooms, G., Latif, L.A., Waris, A. et al., 2014. ‘Is universal health coverage the practical expression of the right to health care?’. BMC International Health and Human Rights, 14, p. 3. Sambo, L. G. and Kirigia, J. M., 2014. ‘Investing in health systems for universal health coverage in Africa’. BMC International Health and Human Rights, 14, p. 28. Save the Children, 2015. A Wake-Up Call: Lessons from Ebola for the World’s Health Systems. London: Save the Children. WB (World Bank), 2014. ‘Higher education in science and technology is critical for Africa’s development’. New York: WB. WB (World Bank), 2015. The Economic Impact of Ebola on Sub- Saharan Africa: Updated Estimates for 2015. New York: WB. WHO (World Health Organization), 2005. Sustainable Health Financing, Universal Coverage and Social Health Insurance: World Health Assembly Resolution WHA58.33. Geneva: WHO. WHO (World Health Organization), 2008. Ouagadougou Declaration on Primary Health Care and Health Systems in Africa: Achieving Better Health for Africa in the new Millennium. 2008 Edition. Brazzaville: WHO Regional Office in Africa. WHO (World Health Organization), 2011. The Abuja Declaration: Ten Years On. Geneva: WHO. WHO (World Health Organization), 2013. A Universal Truth: No Health Without Workforce. Geneva: WHO, p. 36. WHO (World Health Organization), 2014. High-level Meeting on Building Resilient Systems for Health in Ebola-Affected Countries. Geneva: WHO. LORD PAUL BOATENG was brought up in Ghana and is a former UK Health Minister and chief secretary to the Treasury. He subsequently served as the British high commissioner to South Africa and was introduced as a member of the UK House of Lords in July 2010.
Commonwealth Health Partnerships 2015
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