Contribution of Civil Society Organisations to Health in Africa

Foreword

Click here to download the report.

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has made tremendous gains in improving its health outcomes with several countries on track to meet the health Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The overall health improvements have increased life expectancy, reduced child mortality and reduced maternal deaths. CSOs have been a key contributor to the improved health outcomes and have been at the forefront in addressing SSA’s health challenges.

CSOs in SSA play a critical and diverse set of roles in the healthsector. They have been associated with delivery of health care in rural and marginalised areas and being the voice of the community in articulating their health needs.

The reality, though, is that CSOs are involved in all aspects of health care and are bridging the gap in access to equitable health services. They are partners in service delivery of health care, influential financiers and powerful advocates in protecting the rights of the poor in access to health care.

The agility and flexibility of CSOs have enabled them to innovate and provide life-saving solutions.

This report accurately captures the contribution of CSOs to health care delivery in SSA. The description of the services they are providing and the positive impact on health outcomes provides justification for the need for governments to collaborate with them in health care planning and delivery. Worthwhile to note is the fact that the contribution of CSOs is largely influenced by the environment within which they operate. Governments are instrumental in creating an enabling environment and other
development stakeholders, including donors, are influential in providing resources .and determining priority areas.

It is my hope that the information in this publication will contribute to the development of an enabling space for CSOs and the report will continue to serve as the basis for strategic partnerships between health stakeholders. It is only when
governments , civil society and the private sector work together in a harmonised manner that we will be able to achieve the MDGs and make real impact in the wellbeing of our communities.

Dr. Noerine Kaleeba
Chair, AMREF International Board