Cooperation as the Fulcrum of Health for All in Kayah State

​As part of an ongoing series of forums throughout Myanmar to raise awareness of and engagement with Universal Health Coverage (UHC) among civil society organizations (CSOs), Pyi Gyi Khin and Community Partners International (CPI) organized a CSO Health Forum in Loikaw, Kayah State, on August 20 and 21, 2018. The forum brought together around 60 representatives of 15 CSOs implementing health care activities in Kayah State, the Director of the Kayah State Health Department and staff from all seven of Kayah State’s Township Health Departments.

After opening remarks given by the Director of the Kayah State Health Department, Dr. Khin Maung Yin, CPI staff outlined the concepts of health equity and Universal Health Coverage, and unpacked the key components of the National Health Plan (NHP), 2017-2021.

In the next forum session, Pyi Gyi Khin facilitated discussions to explore the role of Kayah State CSOs in NHP implementation. Participants worked together to establish the foundations for a formal Health CSO Network in Kayah State, selected a focal person for the network in each township, and developed a roadmap, objectives and a plan of activities for this network.

The network will help to coordinate activities and unite the efforts of CSOs working in the health sector in Kayah State as part of a common platform to represent communities and advocate for their health service needs at the township and state level.
 
The forum provided a valuable opportunity for CSO representatives and State and Township Health Department staff to openly discuss linkages and cooperation around shared interests in health, the implementation of the National Health Plan, and the goal to achieve Universal Health Coverage by 2030.

The Kayah State CSO Health Forum was supported under a grant from the Three Millennium Development Goal Fund (3MDG).