afrol News, 30 July - The Millennium Challenge Corporation’s (MCC), Acting Chief Executive Officer, Rodney Bent, has said there is a need for innovative and integrated approaches that leverage assistance efforts and produce tangible, sustainable results in the global drive to help poor nations improve health care services.

Speaking at the public forum hosted together with the Global Health Council yesterday, Mr Bent said strong partnerships were also pivotal in reaching the goals.

The forum which also invited several expert panelists was to discuss the critical need to provide access to health care for the world’s poor, in part by building safe infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and health clinics.

The MCC highlighted at the forum projects such as the Lesotho compact where the MCC is investing $122 million in southern African Kingdom, to strengthen the delivery of essential health services to combat HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, and to improve maternal and child health.

The MCC has nearly $705 million investments in the global health programmes, driven by its mission which recognises that a healthy population, in which illness is reduced and life expectancy is increased, is critical to achieving sustained economic growth and poverty reduction.

According to the corporation, where national growth is potentially stymied by poor health, MCC investments can help governments ensure that critical, cost-effective health services are available where they have the most potential to make a difference in enhancing the quality of life, leading to greater productivity and economic growth. In other areas, such as road infrastructure, MCC works to ensure people have secure means of transportation to access health care clinics and supplies.

“The US Government is committed to helping people around the world who face some of the most fundamental health issues due to unsanitary conditions, insufficient clinic or medical supplies, or the lack of roads to travel to reach medical attention,” also added Jeffrey L. Sturchio, the President and CEO of the Global Health Council.

He noted that President Barrack Obama eloquently stated during his recent trip to Ghana that the United States will not ‘confront diseases in isolation’ and will invest in strengthening health systems. “The Council could not agree more. We are pleased that the MCC invited the Council to take part in this important conversation, and our members look forward to continued dialogue with the US Government on how best to address the critical health issues facing the developing world,” he said.

The public forum included keynote remarks by Ambassador Sally Shelton-Colby, former Deputy Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, regarding the holistic approach needed to solve the multi-faceted problem of health care access for the world’s poor.

Other panellists also emphasised the need to look at the systemic causes of the world’s poverty and illnesses in order to create a comprehensive solution.

The Global Health Council is the world's largest membership alliance dedicated to saving lives by improving health throughout the world. Its diverse membership is comprised of health care professionals and organisations that include NGOs, foundations, corporations, government agencies and academic institutions that work to ensure global health for all. The Council informs and educates opinion leaders, policy makers, the media and concerned citizens about crucial global health issues.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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