It has been an arduous task to prepare the next draft of the AfroPHC Policy Framework, after extensive discussions at the AfroPHC e-Conference 17-18th May. Sorry that we did not share anything in June and July! We have now fashioned a “Health care worker call for Africa to build effective PHC teams for PHC and UHC in Africa” It is now available for public comment after the Executive and Advisory Boards have engaged with it.

This second draft of the AfroPHC policy framework is still an argument from healthcare workers for policymakers to prioritise PHC teamwork for holistic care of empanelled populations in decentralised units of community practice. We see the definition of PHC services and modelling of teams in the light of country resources, emerging blended capitation payment systems in UHC reforms across Africa, the inclusion of private providers and the use of complexity theory in bottom-up organisation of PHC in Africa as critical supports that are needed to build PHC teams for UHC in Africa. See the document here and please feel free to comment on it [https://afrophc.org/2022/08/07/afrophc-draft-policy-framework-released-for-stakeholder-comment/].

We have been fortunate in winning a PHC Performance Initiative Micro-Grant of $40 000 to take the policy framework further. It was an incredibly strong pool of 200 applicants and our proposal rose to the top. The goal in our grant-seeking project is to deepen the draft AfroPHC Policy Framework on “Building PHC teams for UHC in Africa” by focusing on EFFECTIVENESS. The target participants and audiences will be AfroPHC members, PHC team members and other stakeholders as well as young health professionals and students at regional and country levels. Activities will be mostly online across African countries, with hybrid Final Workshop of the AfroPHC Executive and Advisory Board in Johannesburg, South Africa 25th-26th October 2022 and a virtual Launch Event on 12th December 2022. See more about the overall grant activities here [https://afrophc.org/2022/08/07/phc-performance-initiative-micro-grant/].

Our process starts in earnest as we have until end October to use the funds. We have a list of regions and stakeholder groups we would like to engage: Central, Southern, Western, Eastern, Arabic and Portuguese Africa. See the detailed list of countries and key stakeholders with dates of consultations and join the WhatsApp group for these regions. See more here [https://afrophc.org/chapters/]. We are very keen that as many local stakeholders participate. These include professional associations, ministries of health, accreditation / certification bodies, academics, patient advocacy groups etc. Please feel free to share this email to any key stakeholders you think should be there and ask them to join us to discuss AfroPHC and the Policy Framework.

We keen to collect cases on ““Building effective multidisciplinary primary health care teams for universal health coverage in Africa” and have set aside prizes worth $1000 for this purpose. We are looking for short, real-life stories about an initiative, project or advocacy campaign that highlight interdisciplinary and interprofessional teamwork being implemented within the African context, demonstrating person and family centered care and helping communities and societies transition to healthy populations. Sharing experiences of less successful case studies and lessons learned is also welcome. The deadline for submitting the case studies is 11th September. Winners will be announced by 31st October. The case studies can be submitted in text format (1200 words max), following the guiding questions, by email to info@afrophc.org. Complementing the case studies with visual materials, such as photos from the field, would be most welcome. See details here https://afrophc.org/2022/08/07/call-for-submissions-of-short-cases/

The AfroPHC Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday 19th May agreed to some few changes. A key change is that we will have associate membership having full access to all the current benefits of AfroPHC. We have created full membership at a fee of $20 for individual members and $40 for institutional members with the additional benefit of having vote/s at the Annual General Meeting and being able to stand for election to the Executive Board (EB). We will begin this process from November 2022. Speaking of elections we welcome our three new EB members: Dr Umar Ibrahim (CHEW, Nurse with PhD from Nigeria) (https://afrophc.org/conference-agm/agm-2022/umar-ibrahim-2/), Mr Innocent Somboi (Clinical Officer from Tanzania) (https://afrophc.org/about/innocent-somboi/) and Dr Mercy Wanjala (Family Physician from Kenya) (https://afrophc.org/conference-agm/agm-2022/mercy-wanjala-2/) [who has since resigned to become the Deputy Executive Coordinator].

We always have wonderful AfroPHC Policy Workshops. Mercy has organised several: “Point of Care Testing in African PHC” 21st June [https://afrophc.org/2022/06/20/afrophc-workshop-21st-june-labs-poct-in-african-phc/], “Onehealth n African PHC” July [https://afrophc.org/2022/07/18/afrophc-workshop-19-july-onehealth-in-african-phc/], and now plans one on “Workers Health in African PHC” 16th August [https://afrophc.org/2022/08/07/afrophc-workshop-16-aug-workers-health-in-african-phc/]. Do join us at the next one.

AfroPHC also provides great value for members at no cost: management course, research support, CPD and the development of a family medicine postgraduate diploma for doctors, nurse clinicians and clinical officers.

See this article on a South African model for community practice https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times-daily/news/2022-03-07-this-is-how-nhi-can-shine-doctor-behind-soweto-clinic-that-broke-the-mould/

A useful article on “African primary healthcare as a complex adaptive system” has been published and is available in pre-publication form on a webpage here. It is an important support to the AfroPHC Policy Framework. See here https://profmoosa.com/article-african-primary-healthcare-as-a-complex-adaptive-system/

See below a sample of useful posts on the AfroPHC blog and keep tabs on it.

Blood Exposure Accidents among Health Care Personnel
Are Africa’s health resources overly focused on HIV/AIDS?
WHO publication “Implication of the COVID-19 Pandemic for Patient Safety: A Rapid Review”, Tuesday, 09 August 2022
Monkeypox declared global health emergency by WHO as cases surge
LeBoHA’s June Newsletter
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