A leading health technology company, Royal Philips, has come on board to support Kenya and the United Nations (UN) initiative aimed at strengthening primary and community healthcare in Africa.
The company becomes the first private sector partner to establish a Sustainable Development Goals( SDG) Partnership Platform in the country for accelerating primary healthcare transformation in support of universal health coverage.
The unique platform will bring together executive leadership from government, development partners, private sector organizations and civil society to investigate opportunities for accelerating universal access to primary healthcare services.
Special focus will be given to addressing gaps in human resources, healthcare financing, essential medicines, medical supplies, health information, and the use of technology. “The Government of Kenya is committed to accelerate progress towards universal health coverage. We are open to fostering partnerships that are dynamic and mutually beneficial and we foresee great potential in the SDG partnership platform,” said Health cabinet secretary Dr. Cleopa Mailu.
He said Philips will immediately provide support to the platform to start work on establishing a common fact-base on primary healthcare by assessing current and future healthcare needs, so that platform members can jointly identify, design and implement trans formative initiatives in pursuit of the platform’s ambitions.
He added that the company will leverage its in-depth clinical insights, global innovation capabilities, and its experience to sustain-ably deliver improved healthcare through partnership with national and county level stakeholders. “You cannot achieve prosperity without quality healthcare, so we are excited to come on board and contribute effectively to the SDG Partnership Platform on Primary Healthcare Transformation,” said Philips Africa Chief Executive Officer Jasper Westerink.
”Philips is passionate about healthcare, because more than in any other sector, it has a direct and dramatic positive impact on the quality of people’s lives”, he added asserting that as a key stakeholder in the agendas and incentives to eliminate barriers to healthcare access will be aligned.
He observed that no single business, institution or government organization can solve the pressing issue alone therefore the SDG Partnership Platform underpins collective responsibility to ensure everyone has access to high quality affordable primary healthcare.
“We are excited about this ambitious new Partnership Platform. Everyone has a role to play in the delivery of the SDGs and partnering with responsible, innovative businesses such as Philips in that process raises our chances of becoming the first generation to end poverty,” added Siddharth Chatterjee, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative to Kenya.
He said strengthening local healthcare systems is central to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 hence need to emulate Philips company that has been advancing primary healthcare in Africa for many years, with a strong focus on Mother and Child Care.
He observed that issues facing primary healthcare in Africa are complicated and multifaceted hence creating sustainable improvement will address a wide range of challenges collectively. ”Issues ranging from the unavailability of qualified healthcare workers and the lack of electricity, water and basic healthcare technology in many areas, to sustainability and a lack of reliable data need to be addressed”, he said.
In June 2014, in partnership with the local government of Kiambu County, Philips inaugurated the first Community Life Center in Africa an initiative that turned the local health facility into a community hub, where technology is bundled with an integrated service package and community empowerment interventions.
The Kiambu initiative saw the total number of outpatients visiting the center per month increase from 900 to 4080, the number of children being treated quadrupled; the number of first antenatal care patients grew fifteen-fold, and the number of fourth visit antenatal care patients each month grew sixteen-fold.
The enormous success of the CLC pilot in Kenya is compelling evidence that such platforms, implemented in collaboration with governmental and private partners, can be replicated throughout Africa wherever deprived communities need a helping hand, said Westerink. He averred that the Company intents to contribute to the process of co-creating new solutions, new business models, and meaningful partnerships to provide innovations that make an impact.