Making healthcare accessible for vulnerable populations is an important issue that deserves a lot of consideration. Vulnerable populations are generally individuals who are at risk due to economic, social and health-related issues. These groups usually have limited access to basic health care due to a lack of financial resources, living in rural areas, or facing linguistic or cultural barriers. As a result, there is an urgent need for policies that promote equitable health care for these vulnerable populations in order to reduce financial and health-related disparities. 

Improving access to healthcare for vulnerable populations requires a multifaceted approach that considers both the individual and their environment. On a personal level, vulnerable populations require healthcare services and resources tailored to their specific needs and language. This may include providing bilingual doctors, providing health education and information that is culturally appropriate and relevant and offering mental health counseling and other support services that meet the needs of the communities. Additional attention should be paid to providing care to those with pre-existing conditions or chronic illnesses.  

On a broader level, governments should be encouraged to employ policies that expand access to healthcare services regardless of background or socioeconomic status. For example, governments can work with private health care providers to increase the availability of health care services in underserved areas, or provide targeted funding to improve access to care. It is also important to create policies that prioritize the prevention of illness especially non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure. These could include establishing a public health system for early detection and treatment of diseases, nutrition education, and other public health initiatives aimed at improving overall health. 

Equal access to health care requires comprehensive strategies to promote good health and safety. Policies should be developed that use a multidisciplinary approach. These policies should include strategies for healthcare providers to develop effective communication techniques with vulnerable populations; proactive screenings, treatments, and preventative services; and supporting communities with culturally competent training and resources. 

In January 2023, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, inaugurated the new Headquarters of the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) located at the African Village, south of Addis Ababa. During the inauguration ceremony, he mentioned that the African Union Commission and the Africa CDC along with RECs and Member States, having taking stock of the structural weaknesses that have characterized Africa’s health system, launched the New Health Order for Africa in 2021, which focused on strengthening public health institutions, public health personnel, manufacture of vaccines, action-oriented partnerships, and increasing national resources for health security. 

As a commitment from the African Renaissance we call upon our leaders in Africa to work towards making healthcare accessible for vulnerable populations. This accessibility is an essential part of promoting health equity. It requires relevant and culturally competent health care services and resources tailored to individual needs, as well as policies that improve access to care and prioritize prevention of disease. In order to ensure that vulnerable populations receive the best possible care, it is important to understand their unique needs, create effective strategies at both the individual and community level, and support government initiatives that foster health and wellness. 

The Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) is a free trade agreement between three African Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the East African Community (EAC), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). This agreement creates a free trade area between 29 African countries, covering about 60% of the continent’s population and combining their total gross domestic product (GDP). This is will bring together about 626 million customers (approximately 8 percent of the world’s population). 

From Monday, January 23^rd to Tuesday, January 24^th 2023, trade experts from seventeen countries under the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Agreement met in Nairobi, Kenya for the Tripartite Trade Negotiation Forum (TTNF). The experts reviewed progress made on various key issues needed to make the TFTA operational and unlock enhanced trade and investment opportunities. This is intended to benefit the 29 COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Member States. COMESA NEWS 

Policymakers ensured that the primary purpose of the agreement is to boost economic growth in the region and create a more competitive regional market. It aims to eliminate many of the trade barriers between these countries, such as tariffs, quotas and other restrictions on trade. This means that African countries will be able to take advantage of tariff-free trade, while businesses will be able to benefit from a wider variety of products. This could ultimately lead to more low-cost, high-quality products as well as improved living standards. 

The TFTA is expected to create jobs, increase income, and reduce poverty in the region. Increased trade and reduced trade barriers will lead to a larger flow of foreign direct investments into African countries. This can lead to the creation of new businesses and the expansion of existing ones, resulting in increased job opportunities and greater income for individuals. 

The TFTA also provides a unique opportunity for investment in technology and infrastructure development. By increasing competition between African countries, it may be possible to create an environment where smaller firms can access finance and resources more easily, thus making it easier for them to invest in innovation and technology. Furthermore, improved infrastructure will facilitate the smooth transportation of goods and services across African borders. This could ultimately lead to better economic growth and higher standards of living. 

Moreover, the TFTA will strengthen Africa’s relationship with other countries, creating an open and fair market for African exports. This could make the African market more attractive, resulting in increased foreign investments and access to global markets. This could result in more foreign currency entering the region, helping to strengthen and diversify African economies. 

As we prepare for the African Union (AU) Summit in happening in February 2023 at the AU Headquarters (HQ) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, let us keep in mind that the TFTA has the prospect of bringing numerous benefits to African countries. It can create jobs, increase income, reduce poverty, and encourage foreign direct investments. We as African Renaissance see the massive potential because it could improve infrastructure and technology and make African exports more attractive to foreign investors.  

We call upon the policymakers to remind our leaders as we meet at the AU HQ that we need to implement the TFTA. The TFTA will create an open and fair market that could significantly strengthen African economies. 

Every year, voices from around the world are heard calling for a future in which every pregnancy is desired. This call is loudest on World Contraception Day which is marked on the 26th of September.  

African Renaissance recognizes the importance of this day, especially for the women and girls in Africa. It is a day when we roll out campaigns to expand people’s appreciation of contraception. It is a day to inspire people to make well-informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and to exercise their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).

Through Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 5 and the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) there is a global accord to end preventable maternal deaths. Sub-Saharan Africa lost 196,000 women and girls to maternal deaths in 2017 (UNICEF). 

It is a clear reflection of the inequalities that we face regarding access to quality health services. Our health systems are compromised to a level where we lose our women and girls to severe bleeding, infections, high blood pressure during pregnancy, complications from delivery and unsafe abortion. Our systems have to improve to safeguard the lives of our women. We need to provide education and SRH services that will safeguard the lives of our women and girls.

We call on parliamentarians to set laws and policies to protect the rights of choice. Every pregnancy should be desired and it is the responsibility of both the woman and man. The onus is equally on the woman and the man to choose whether or not to have a child. Modes of contraception are readily available for women and men. As African Renaissance, we call upon all people of reproductive age to consider a mode of contraception. Women and men need to embrace the modes of contraception that are available and accessible to them. 

We commit to continue the campaign to educate and provide access to contraception to all who need it here in Africa. 

Join us today from 10:00am (GMT) at the 1st AfWA Digital Congress. Caroline Kwamboka of African Renaissance will be taking us through a session on Tackling Gender & Social Inequalities to Advance Sanitation Rights. Register here: https://digitalevents.afwa-hq.org #GovernanceInSanitation

The young people in African are the resource that has set the stage for the next phase of our Continent. These young people are at the leading edge of change. Their energy and ability to innovate makes them the unstoppable movement that will catalyze the African renaissance. 

The continent of Africa is banking on this generation to accelerate the rate at which we will achieve human rights for all. The capacity of active young citizens to bring positive change to the world is recognized. This clear “Intergeneration Solidarity: Creating a world for all ages”. It acknowledges the voice of the young people in Africa. This will help reach Generation Equality and foster collaboration between people of all ages.

We must tackle ageism! It is critical in our efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The plans we make must be gender-responsive and must be inter-generational. This will in turn ensure that the issues of ageism are dealt with and everyone is able to enjoy their rights.

On this International Youth Day, the African Renaissance commits to amplify the voices of the people with the focus of achieving gender equality, health equity, sanitation rights and social protection. We commit to continue the work that is accelerating active citizenry especially among the young people in Africa.