Policy Brief No. 04 of 2022-2023 on Strengthening Primary Health Care for Equitable Access to Vaccinations in Africa

Abstract

Primary Health Care (PHC) is a whole of society approach to health that aims at ensuring the highest possible level of health and well-being and equitable distribution by focusing on people’s needs and, as early as possible, along the continuum from health promotion and disease prevention to treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care and as close as possible to people’s everyday environment (WHO and UNICEF, 2018). The COVID-19 pandemic revealed PHC as the weakest link in the national and community response globally despite its importance as a defence to “flatten the curve” and prevent hospital saturation (World Bank, 2021). PHC facilitates timely vaccination in a functional health system and, therefore, it is vital for coping with the effects of the pandemic. Lessons learned from the pandemic present an opportunity for policy makers to strengthen and reform health systems by establishing sustainable structures that can withstand future crises and persist during non-crisis periods. Investing in PHC is necessary for a healthy population as it optimizes the use of healthcare resources and provides for timely and appropriate care that is responsive to the needs of individuals and communities.