HSA Wemos - The Netherlands

Wemos advocates strengthening health systems to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) – accessible and affordable health services for everyone – following the internationally adopted agenda of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). From 2016 to 2020, we participate in the Health Systems Advocacy Partnership (HSA Partnership), a consortium of Wemos and AMREF Health Africa, African Centre of Global Health and Social Transformation (ACHEST), Health Action International (HAI), and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs . Together we work in Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Tanzania, and Malawi on innovative practices that combine advocacy, research and civil society engagement to strengthen health systems from the bottom up. The main aim of the partnership is advocating sustainable and accessible health systems in Sub-Saharan Africa so that all people and communities can use the health services they need, with a focus on essential high-quality sexual and reproductive health services. Wemos works on two main themes within the HSAP, namely financing for health, and human resources for health (HRH). Eventually, we want stakeholders (governments, international bodies, institutions and private actors) at all levels to take responsibility for effective policies, policy adherence and implementation, including sustained funding for human resources for health. Within the partnership, Wemos applies different strategies for strengthening the linkages between national, regional and international advocacy in collaboration with African and international NGOs and CSOs. We analyze relevant international policies which impact on UHC and health systems, and assess the impact and implications of these policies in the five countries. Moreover, we translate these country case studies into effective evidence-based advocacy aimed at the Dutch government and relevant European and global institutions.