Announcements

EQUINET links with HEPS Uganda

HEPS-Uganda is a Health Consumers’ Organisation advocating for health rights and responsibilities. The organisation is a coalition of health consumers, health advocates, health practitioners, CSOs and CBOs. HEPS is concerned about bottlenecks that hinder access to quality healthcare for the majority of Ugandans. The position of the organisation is that more preventive and curative means are necessary and that they should be designed from a health consumer’s perspective. More information on HEPS can be found at www.heps.org

Regional meeting on Promoting Health in Trade agreements, 29 October 2005

The workshop on Protecting health in Trade agreements held in Johannesburg in October 2005 was held within an EQUINET programme with Centre for Health Policy South Africa and SEATINI Zimbabwe that aims to build capacities in state, legislative and civil society institutions to know, understand, analyse and promote public sector equity oriented health systems within trade and investment policies and agreements. The workshop reviewed the work and research papers of the capacity building programme implemented in Tanzania and Zimbabwe to date. The purpose of the workshop reviewed the training, findings and programme in order to identify issues arising for policy support, future capacity building, extension to other countries in the region and to strengthen linkages with other work on trade and health. The report of the workshop is avilable on this website under EQUINET publications

EQUINET definition of equity in health

In 1998, after reviewing many sources of policy and evidence now documented in the annotated bibliography in equity in health www.equinetafrica.org/bibl/) , EQUINET adopted a working definition of equity in health as

‘Equity in health implies addressing differences in health status that are unnecessary, avoidable and unfair. In southern Africa, these typically relate to disparities across racial groups, rural/urban status, socio-economic status, gender, age and geographical region. EQUINET is primarily concerned with equity motivated interventions that seek to allocate resources preferentially to those with the worst health status (vertical equity). EQUINET seeks to understand and influence the redistribution of social and economic resources for equity oriented interventions, EQUINET also seeks to understand and inform the power and ability people (and social groups) have to make choices over health inputs and their capacity to use these choices towards health.’

A deeper discussion of this definition and the concepts that inform it can be found in EQUINET EQUINET policy papers 2, 7 and 15 on this site at www.equinetafrica.org/bibl/policy.php. Please send comments, debate, input on this definition to us at admin@equinetafrica.org

RECLAIMING THE RESOURCES FOR HEALTH: The EQUINET Regional equity analysis- what are people saying?

EQUINET has produced a regional equity analysis in east and southern Africa that offers a comprehensive, yet accessible, resource presented through text, tables, figures, case studies, quotes and images on health equity in the region. The book draws on and will feed into the several thousand organisations and individuals involved in EQUINET training, research, policy dialogue and information activities over the past seven years. To obtain the book contact EQUINET admin@equinetafrica.org or Weaver Press weaver@mweb.co.zw; Fountain Publishers (for East African region) sales@fountainpublishers.co.ug and Jacana (for South Africa and Boleswa) sales@jacana.co.za. For further information read the flyer on this site under "EQUINET Publications"

Let us know what you thought of the book please! We are keen to hear your comments to admin@equinetafrica.org on where and how you are using the book, any gaps you still want further information on and who else you think should receive copies of the book.
Read more here for comments received....

Participatory approaches to strengthening PHC oriented responses to HIV and AIDS

The Regional Network on Equity in Health in east and southern Africa (EQUINET), through TARSC, IHRDC, and in co-operation with REACH Trust and GNP+ are awarding grants to people who have completed the EQUINET training in PRA methodologies in east and southern Africa to carry out research and intervention on strengthening people centred, PHC oriented responses to HIV. EQUINET invites those who have completed the training to submit their proposals by March 14 2008 to the EQUINET secretariat at admin@equinetafrica.org. Further information on the proposal outline can also be requested from the secretariat.

Report available of the Regional Meeting on health workers retention and migration in east and southern Africa

Arusha, March 16-18 2007

EQUINET through University of Namibia and Health Systems Trust and in co-operation with the Regional Health Secretariat in East and Southern Africa is implementing in east and southern Africa research, capacity building and programme support for country programmes to monitor, evaluate and manage incentives for retention of health workers, particularly non financial incentives and to review costs and benefits of health worker migration. A regional meeting was held in Arusha Tanzania on March 16-18 to discuss the current knowledge in this area and set up the programme of country and regional work. the report of the meeting and the background paper on retention incentives are now available on this website. Those interested or for any queries please contact admin@equinetafrica.org

EQUINET STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING April 11-13 2008

EQUINET will be holding its steering committee meeting in April 11-13 2008 to review its work and plan future activities. If you have any comments on the functioning of the network, on suggestions for future areas of focus or resources and processes you value and want to see sustained, please let us know through the secretariat at admin@equinetafrica.org.

National Meeting on Equity in Health in Uganda March 27 and 28, Kampala

The first National meeting on Equity in Health in Uganda will be hosted by the HEPS Uganda – Coalition for Health Promotion and Social Development and Makerere University in co-operation with Regional Network on Equity in Health in East and Southern Africa (EQUINET). The meeting will bring together researchers, policy-makers, practitioners and others concerned with equity in health to exchange information and develop an agenda of follow up work to support health equity in Uganda. The theme is ““Knowledge for action on equity in health in Uganda”. The meeting will explore this theme through a varied program of plenary sessions, forums, poster sessions and scientific sessions. the meeting will also launch in Uganda the EQUINET book "Reclaiming the Resources for Health". Contact the organizing Committee heps@utlonline.co.ug and read further below.

RESEARCH ON RESOURCE MOBILISATION AND ALLOCATION FOR EQUITY IN HEALTH

EQUINET through the Health Economics Unit University of Cape Town, Cape Town South Africa is supporting research in East and Southern Africa on resource mobilisation, mechanisms for strengthening cross-subsidies in the overall health system and lessons from application of equity oriented resource allocation policies. The focal point for queries on this programme is Vimbayi Mutyambizi at the Health Economics Unit University of Cape Town, Cape Town South Africa.

EQUINET and ECSA co-operation on work on health worker migration and retention

EQUINET and the East, Central and Southern African Health Community Regional secretariat located in Arusha, Tanzania have agreed to a co-operation in areas of work on health systems in line with in resolutions of the Regional Health Ministers meetings and with health equity goals. In the first instance this covers co-operation in gathering, synthesis and review of knowledge on various areas of work on human resources for health (HRH), development of methods and tools to support such work, and co-operation on dissemination of research and information relevant to HRH work, including to institutions and policy platforms in the region.

In 1974, the East, Central and Southern African (ECSA) Health Community, formerly known as Commonwealth Regional Health Community Secretariat was established under the auspices of the Commonwealth Secretariat in London to promote regional cooperation in health.

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