Health
Systems Action Network Launched with BRAC on Steering Committee
28 August 2006
Thirty-one
health systems leaders from all regions of the world have agreed
to launch a Health System Action Network (HSAN) to increase understanding
at both the global and country level of the importance of strong
health systems to achieve urgent health priorities. HSAN will
share what is known across countries by linking health systems
leaders through a global network and will provide input to global
and donor initiatives so that programmes best serve country priorities.
A meeting August 18-19
in Toronto, Canada drew policymakers, clinicians, economists,
human resource professionals, pharmacists, and journalists chosen
through a highly competitive international process. Participants
came from Bangladesh, Chile, Costa Rica, Georgia, Ghana, India,
Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Russia, Senegal, South
Africa, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, and Uganda
and represented the public and private sectors, academia, civil
society, and the media.
“Coordination across
the spectrum is needed now more than ever,” said a founding
member of the network. “We need information on what works
to strengthen health systems, technical resources to support country
level efforts, and opportunities to share and learn with others
grappling with similar challenges. HSAN will be a global network
that will fill these gaps.” In its first 2 years, HSAN will
educate stakeholders and will advocate for investing in strong
health systems, enhance access to information about what works,
link together country based health systems leaders across the
globe, and will develop a system to measure, track, and compare
country progress toward strengthening their health systems. Representatives
from BRAC and CARE Bangladesh have been included in the steering
committee.
The need to focus on health
systems strengthening was identified at a World Health Organization-led
meeting of donors and advocates in Montreux, Switzerland in 2005.
Since this time, the U.S. Agency for International Development
(USAID), Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency
(SIDA), Department for International Development (DFID), the Bill
and Melinda Gates Foundation and Canadian International Development
Cooperation Agency (CIDA) have been working together to help HSAN
emerge.
Since 1972, BRAC has been
working with the twin objectives of poverty alleviation and empowering
the poor with a holistic approach. It has made laudable contributions
in the field of microfinance, health, education and social development
education through its holistic approach to development and is
fully committed to strengthening the health system of Bangladesh.
Kazi Arif Anwar
Manager
BRAC Public Affairs and Communications
Tel: +880-2-9881265/8824180 ext-2158
Fax: +880-2- 882 3614
Email: public-affairs@brac.net
Website: www.brac.net
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