Uganda to join efforts to build global health network

Uganda is to join efforts to develop an international Health Systems Action Network (HSAN) that will enable the nation to achieve health priorities.

According to Daily Monitor's report on Saturday, HSAN will be a leading global health network, which aims at facilitating the development of equitable, accountable, and sustainable health systems for improved health outcomes.

In the first two years after launching, HSAN will educate stakeholders and advocate for investing in strong health systems, enhance access to information and to develop a system to track and compare country progress toward strengthening their health systems.

Meanwhile, HSAN is expected to enable members to share information across countries by linking health systems leaders from different nations.

Health systems' strengthening is increasingly being recognized as an important issue to address in the support given to fight major epidemics like HIV/AIDS in the east African country.

"Without functional health systems, injecting millions of dollars into disease specific initiatives like the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria may not achieve the intended objectives," the paper warned.

The mismanagement and misuse of the Global Fund has led to the temporary suspension of the project last year and the de facto step-down of former Health Minister Jim Muhvezi and his deputies among public fury in the new cabinet formed in May.

Source: Xinhua