ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED:
30 June 2022
Connecting through public-private partnership underpins our Healthy Heart Africa (HHA) programme, working with government partners and NGOs to help reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by contributing to the prevention and control of cardiovascular diseases, focusing on hypertension.
Expansion of Healthy Heart Africa Programme to Rwanda and Nigeria
HHA contributes to a sustainable healthcare system at the primary level by training healthcare providers on hypertension screening, treatment and management, supporting implementing facilities with screening equipment and promoting education and awareness activities in the community. The programme has now expanded to Rwanda and Nigeria, bringing the number of active countries to nine since launch in 2014 in Kenya.
Innovative screening equipment donation to Kenyan research institutions
A further example of partnership in Africa was our donation of innovative screening equipment to the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH)/ The University of Nairobi (UON) and the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUHN). The equipment will enable recipient institutions to conduct research on the use of non-invasive technology to predict the risk of hypertension and diabetes through eye diseases, as well as to diagnose these conditions.
As a founding member of the Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI), we were formally invited to join HRH The Prince of Wales official SMI business delegation at this year’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kigali, Rwanda.
Global discussions in Kigali on the delivery of sustainable healthcare
Bringing together leaders from 54 nations under the theme ‘Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming’, CHOGM offered an opportunity to explore ways for stakeholders from government, the private sector, non-government organisations (NGOs) and young people to rethink how we deliver sustainable, equitable and low-carbon healthcare post pandemic.
There is an urgent need across the globe to enhance patient outcomes and population health whilst reducing environmental impacts.
Barbara Nel, Country President of AstraZeneca’s Africa Cluster, joined discussions on these topics with HRH and Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, during CHOGM, including on our pandemic response and commitment to ensure last mile delivery as part of our equitable access approach.
SMI Health Systems Taskforce roundtable at CHOGM
Barbara also hosted a roundtable on the SMI Health Systems Taskforce, a public-private partnership committed to accelerating the delivery of net zero healthcare systems, championed by our CEO Pascal Soriot. The Taskforce will collaborate with the newly-launched WHO-led Alliance on Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH) to help deliver recommendations directly to almost 60 countries which have pledged their commitment to the delivery of low carbon, climate resilient health systems.
The decarbonisation of healthcare is a critical topic since the healthcare sector is responsible for approximately 4-5% of global greenhouse gas emissions.1 Recently, on World Environment Day, SMI Health Systems Taskforce leaders published a joint OpEd in Devex on this topic, calling on organisations across the healthcare sector to take action to drive impact across the healthcare value chain.
Partnering for an equitable future for women and girls
Another highlight of our engagement at CHOGM was a dialogue on Equality for Women & Girls, which looked at how the pandemic has had a negative effect on the rights of women and girls and how this can be reversed. The discussion underlined the importance of our support for initiatives to promote gender equality and girls’ rights around the world. We believe that gender equality and female representation, particularly in leadership, is crucial for healthy societies, and we are proud to be a Global Supporter of the Girls Belong Here campaign, which is breaking down barriers and empowering the girls of today to be the leaders of tomorrow.
The importance of community-driven and nature-based solutions
At AstraZeneca, we recognise that the health of our planet, people and society are interconnected. We are taking bold steps both within our company, and through partnerships like the SMI, to mitigate climate change. We’re also integrating community-led and nature-based solutions into the heart of our strategy. Ahead of CHOGM, Barbara visited a community-led project, AZ Forest, Ghana, which has an ambitious target of planting 4.5 million trees by the end of 2025. The project is part of our global AZ Forest programme, which aims to plant and maintain 50 million trees worldwide by 2025, helping to sequester carbon dioxide, while making a positive contribution to communities and local economies.
Part of the CBA’s network of Living Labs for Nature, People and Planet, the AZ Forest project in Ghana’s Atebubu and Wiase districts integrates traditional knowledge and new research and innovation, to foster ecological and community resilience. Speaking during the visit to the Living Lab, Barbara Nel, President of AstraZeneca’s Africa business in Sub-Saharan Africa, said:
“I’m pleased to have been able to meet community leaders, local farmers and other stakeholders involved in this Living Lab and to see first-hand the positive impact. Together we can make a difference. Working with local communities, respecting local knowledge and traditions, and merging these with the latest technology and multisectoral expertise is helping to restore local livelihoods and build sustainable communities. AstraZeneca is proud to be able to contribute to this.”
Supporting last mile distribution efforts in Kenya
Alongside our community investments through AZ Forest, we are also committed to equitable access and bringing health services to hard-to-reach communities.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Health in Kenya and Amref Health Africa, we are launching a fleet of mobile clinics in Kenya.
Dr Pelin Incesu, Area Vice President, AstraZeneca for the Middle East and Africa said, “We are thrilled to launch this innovative partnership with the Ministry of Health and Amref Health Africa to ensure that no Kenyan is left behind in our efforts to protect lives from COVID-19 and other life-threatening diseases. This is part of AstraZeneca's ongoing commitment to a patient-centric response to the pandemic.”
Reference
1. Health Care Without Harm and Arup (September 2019) Health care's climate footprint. Climate-smart health care series. Green Paper Number One [Online]. Available at: >http://www.arup.com/perspectives/publications/research/section/healthcares-climate-footprint [Last accessed: 22 June 2022]
