Background

More than 4.5 billion people – over half of the world’s population – lack access to essential health services, and 2 billion people face financial hardship in accessing such services. Universal health coverage (UHC) means that all people have access to quality health services they need, when and where they need them, without financial hardship.  

Achieving UHC is a global health priority embedded in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG target 3.8) which were adopted by all countries in 2015 with the aim of “peace and prosperity for people and the planet.” At the United Nations High-level Meeting on UHC in September 2023, world leaders renewed their commitment to accelerate progress towards achieving UHC and the SDGs by 2030. But the government alone cannot deliver UHC. Civil society and communities including the youth, have an important role to play to help governments translate UHC commitments into real policies, budgets and legislations at the country and community level to ensure has equitable access to quality health services. As the COVID-19 pandemic showed, civil society organizations and communities are often best placed to know the needs of communities, who is left behind, and the impact of policies and programs on people’s lives. 

UHC regional workshop

In collaboration with The Youth Platform, formerly known as Zambian Youth Platform, the CSEM is organizing a workshop on the sidelines of the Regional Adolescent Health Indaba (RAHi) that will take place from 8-10 August 2024 in Lusaka, Zambia at Mika Convention Centre. RAHi has been held since 2020 convened by the young people for the young people with support from local and international partners.

The workshop will bring together youth advocates from across Zambia to learn critical skills to advocate for UHC and health for all in their country. 

Objectives

The main objective of this workshop is to strengthen the capacity of young people to advocate for UHC and health for all by engaging and persuading their government officials/ decision makers to take action, including policy, financial, programmatic and regulatory action. Other objectives include:

• Impact knowledge: Strengthen understanding of the importance of UHC in the region among young people 
• Build skills: Build skills and strengthen the capacity of youth in the region to advocate for UHC in their countries 
• Share resources: Share advocacy resources for UHC, including the Health for All Advocacy Toolkit, the election advocacy guide, SoUHCR
• Inspire action: Leverage the Indaba to foster dialogue between the government officials/ decision makers and young people; Identify opportunities for young people to contribute to UHC policy development and implementation at national, regional and global levels

Build a community of advocates: cultivate a community of young advocates and champions for UHC in the region

AGENDA

Find the social media toolkit here.