Seychelles, World Health Organisation agree on projects in disease preparedness, health promotion

WHO has commended Seychelles for its steps taken in increasing equity to access by making health services free. (Seychelles Ministry of Health)

(Seychelles News Agency) - Seychelles and the World Health Organisation (WHO) renewed an agreement on Wednesday to improve the island nation’s health system in key areas for the next two years.

The Biennial Work Plan agreement between the Ministry of Health and WHO will help finance key developments in the health system worth up to $739,600. The previous plan ended in December 2017.

“The work plan will focus on key priorities such as communicable and non-communicable diseases, health promotion, health system strengthening and disease preparedness, surveillance and response,” said Minister of Health Jean-Paul Adam at the signing ceremony.

In addition funding and technical support will also be provided for other health priorities identified by the government as well as other emerging issues that arise during the course of the two years.

The agreement was signed on Wednesday. (Joena Meme) Photo License: CC-BY

Adam added that the plan “provides a clear framework for WHO's technical cooperation with Seychelles for the next two years,” said Adam. It will also help Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean, in the implementation of its health strategic plan and capacity building.

The WHO Liaison Officer, Teniin Gakuruh, said that funds provided in the work plan are only part of the support in the health sector that the organisation is providing to the island nation. 

“This can be seen in the form of technical support, research and capacity building,” said Gakuruh.

Through the support it has provided over the years, WHO has played an active role in improving the health system in Seychelles and has even commended the country for its steps taken in increasing equity to access by making health services free.

Adam said that the organisation also helped Seychelles set up a preventative and rapid response programme during the plague outbreak, which swept Madagascar recently.

The Liaison Officer added that Seychelles is on its way to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and has good prospect to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

A report in 2013 on Seychelles stated that the island nation has already achieved three out of the eight goals -- universal primary education, gender equality and women empowerment, and maternal health.

According to the report Seychelles is on track to achieve set targets for remaining five  -- the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, reduction of child mortality, combat of HIV/Aids, Malaria and other Diseases, ensuring environmental sustainability and the development of global partnerships for development.