The webinar, held on 15th June under the theme: “New Challenges, Existing Networks: Civil Society Experiences from the GMS during COVID-19”, covered topics on how COVID-19 disrupts the malaria elimination activities in GMS and how can Civil Society Organizations overcome the challenges to stay on track in the control and elimination of malaria. Dr. Hamid shared his thoughts on the role of CSOs in the fight against Malaria and Health System Strengthening. Here is what Dr. Hamid had to say about his topic.
Q: Could you briefly tell us about what you discussed in the Webinar?
A: This webinar aimed to discuss the role of Civil Society Organizations in malaria control and elimination in the Greater Mekong Sub-region, especially expending malaria services to remote communities. In my presentation, I highlighted the roles of CSOs and their frontline malaria service providers and how continuity of malaria interventions during COVID-19 pandemic can be maintained. I had a chance to discuss the role of CSOs and their providers in building sustainable and resilient health systems. When we look at the health sector governance and policy we see that there has been an important shift over the past 2 decades due to the fast expansion of private for-profit providers. I emphasized this point and argued that CSOs can be relied upon as a true partner in delivering malaria and other health services.
Q: How can CSOs support health system strengthening, especially malaria elimination?
A: The contribution of CSO to health system strengthening can be summarized in five types, as follows;
- Expanding the geographic and population coverages with health service and thus contributing not only to disease control but other packages of health services and consequently realizing universal health access;
- Supporting health workforce through direct hiring and deploying of skilled health cadre to work within the public sector (seconded staff) and supporting and supervising community health workers;
- Transferring knowledge, training and deskilling – migrate delivery of services to less extensively qualified professionals where the risk of transition is felt to be minimum, for example, the substitution of nurses in place of medical doctors;
- Strengthening health information including disease surveillance. CSOs working in malaria elimination implementing malaria surveillance including case and foci investigation. CSO is well-positioned to support Community COVID-19 surveillance;
- Contributing to health support systems such as strengthening the supply and delivery of health products and commodities, and expanding laboratory capacity. Some CSOs have infrastructure and capacities capable of COVID-19 testing.
Q: What will be the future challenges for the engagement of CSOs in health system strengthening?
A: There were many challenges mentioned by the other speakers which were mainly operational in nature. I tried to shift the conversation for some key strategic points if CSO are to position themselves as true health system actors. I see two key challenges here:
- The role of CSOs in expanding individual and communities’ participation in public policy: Although the ultimate responsibility for the overall performance of a country’s health lies with the government, the CSOs are increasingly contributing to health policy goals. CSOs, I think, need to continue to advocate for certain population groups or for allocating resources to priority and emerging diseases and health conditions. However, CSOs themselves may be restricted in activities such as providing specific services.
- The role of CSO in transition and sustainability from heavily donor-financed programmes to more nationally financed and integrated service: Supporting the transition from external funding/donor to a more sustainable health system: the example of health service integration, surveillance, knowledge transferring and deskilling are key activities to support this transition.
