Self-care key to the attainment of universal health coverage

Blood test. [iStockphoto]

A triple challenge characterises Africa’s health landscape. First, Africa grapples with a disproportionately high disease burden given that it bears over 23 per cent of the global disease burden, yet it is home to just 16 per cent of the global population and accounts for just one to three per cent of global healthcare spending.

Second, the problem posed by the high disease burden is exacerbated by the restricted fiscal space for health with government health expenditures averaging 1.8 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), falling short of the five per cent threshold needed to attain Universal Health Coverage (UHC).