WHO Representative for Sudan, Dr Naeema Al Gasseer, speaks at the launch of Sudan’s first ever joint annual review of the health sector
7 November 2017 – On 6 and 7 November, around 300 partners from all parts of Sudan’s health sector are gathering in Khartoum to launch the country’s first ever joint annual review of the health sector (JAR). Participants included representatives from Sudan’s Health and other ministries at federal and state levels, health practitioners, staff from WHO and other United Nations agencies, development partners, civil society, academia, and private sector entities.
In the presence of high level dignitaries, including Sudan’s Undersecretary of Health, Dr Issam Mohamed Abdallah and WHO Representative for Sudan Dr Naeema Al Gasseer participants will discuss, present and launch the first ever JAR undertaken in Sudan.
The JAR functions as a report card for the health sector in Sudan. It identifies where health systems, policies and facilities are strong, but also signals areas where improvement is necessary. Finally, it provides specific recommendations on how to achieve this improvement. These recommendations cover all health sector building blocks: health governance, health service delivery, health information systems, human resources for health, medicine and medical technologies, and health financing.
Dr Issam Mohamed Abdallah, Sudan’s Undersecretary of Health, thanked the JAR team for their efforts and commented: “This joint annual review is the first for Sudan, and it was a very successful exercise. The team truly took a bottom-up approach to show what is happening in all of the States and include all parts of the country. With the recommendations from the JAR, our health policy, planning and delivery will be much stronger.”
Dr Naeema Al Gasseer, WHO Representative for Sudan, said: “Using this JAR to improve health policy and strategy will put all health partners in a better position going forward to achieve universal health coverage and healthy livings.' To institutionalise the review on a yearly basis is an important tool for accountability and will contribute to Sudan achieving the Sustainable Development Goals ensuring equity at all levels and for the most vulnerable.
The JAR process was made possible by the generous support of the Global Fund and GAVI - the Vaccine Alliance, contributing to funds made available by Sudan's Government and WHO.