Planting the Seeds of Universal Health Coverage in Chin State

Making Universal Health Coverage (UHC) a reality in Myanmar hinges on the support and participation of civil society – bringing their local expertise and community networks into the broader effort to ensure health for all. As part of the process of building understanding of and support for UHC in Chin State, Myanmar, Community Partners International (CPI) and Pyi Gyi Khin organized a Civil Society Organizations (CSO) Health Forum in Hakha, Chin State, on May 17 and 18, 2018.

​In total, more than 60 representatives from 35 CSOs providing health services in Chin State participated in the forum. CPI introduced UHC, covering themes such as health equity and an overview of the key elements of Myanmar’s National Health Plan (2017-2021).

Pyi Gyi Khin facilitated forum sessions to explore ways in which CSOs can participate in the implementation of the National Health Plan. They moderated discussions on the development of a formal Health CSO Network in Chin State and participants worked together to develop a roadmap, objectives and a plan of activities.

The network will help to coordinate activities and unite the efforts of the many CSOs working in the health sector in Chin State as part of a common platform to represent communities and advocate for their health service needs at the township and state level. Participants nominated a key representative for the network to lead advocacy and coordination efforts.

This CSO Health Forum in Chin State forms part of CPI’s wider efforts to raise awareness of and engagement with UHC among CSOs in Myanmar. Similar forums have already been held in Magway, Mandalay and Yangon Regions, and Mon State, and another forum is scheduled to take place in Sagaing Region in June 2018.

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