Health

The Sector Forum for Health is an FCDC instrument established to enhance cooperation, coordination and information between counties, partners and communities in the provision of healthcare in the FCDC region.

The Sector Forum was established in March 2018 to act as an engine to drive regional collaboration, lessons learnt sharing and policy coordination around key health priorities in the region. It is composed of the County Executive Committee members of Health from the 10 FCDC member counties.

Sector Forum for Health Objectives

  • Enhancing productivity, performance and service delivery of the health sector;
  • Harmonizing health policies and sector plans among counties;
  • Advocating on issues related to the health sector;
  • Creating synergies between counties and reducing duplication of activities;
  • Coordinating health infrastructure developments in the region;
  • Being a forum for exchange of information and for learning.

Membership and collaboration

Health CECs of the FCDC member Counties form the Forum’s General Assembly (GA) and meet regularly to deliberate on issues and topics raised by the Counties, the Government of Kenya and development partners. The GA is the overall decision making organ. It appoints the Board, decides on the establishment of nonpermanent working groups and decides on what issues and businesses their Secretariat should work on.

The Secretariat is responsible for the day to day running of the Forum, implements requests and decisions taken by the GA, represents the members in meetings, organizes meetings and mobilizes resources.

Sector Forum priority Areas for 2018-2021

1. Strengthening County and Community Health Systems:

Advocating for Public – Private Partnerships (PPPs) and Public-Private Collaboration (PPCs), Multi-sectoral Collaborations towards improving various health issues, including:

  • Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR)
  • Child-spacing/contraceptive planning
  • Eradication of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
  • Reducing Gender Based Violence (GBV)
  • Addressing HIV, TB and Malaria in the FCDC Region.

2. Emergency Planning and Response:

Creating responsive and sustainable resilient county health systems through County Emergency Teams, e.g. during pandemics such as COVID-19, and post pandemic in the FCDC Region.

3. Strengthening Cross-border Health Initiatives:

Enhancing partnerships and collaboration with all the relevant players towards improving access to quality and affordable healthcare services in the bordering countries and counties. There are opportunities to partner with regional authorities such as the East African Community.

4. Knowledge Management and advocacy:

Sharing data, information to promote knowledge transfer and diffusion within the FCDC member counties and beyond.