The COVID-19 Pandemic and Non-communicable Diseases—A Wake-upCall for Primary Health Care System Strengthening in Sub-SaharanAfrica

摘要

Strengthening Primary Health Care Systems is the most effective policyresponse in low-and middle-income countries to protect against healthemergencies, achieve universal health coverage, and promote health andwellbeing. Despite the Astana declaration on primary health care,respective investment is still insufficient in Sub-Sahara Africa. TheSARS-CoV-2019 pandemic is a reminder that non-communicable diseases(NCDs), which are increasingly prevalent in Sub-Sahara Africa, areclosely interlinked to the burden of communicable diseases,exacerbating morbidity and mortality. Governments and donors shoulduse the momentum created by the pandemic in a sustainable andeffective way by pivoting health spending towards primary healthcare.