Tanintharyi Health CSOs Gather to Explore Universal Health Coverage

On May 27 and 28, 2019 , Myanmar, 85 representatives from 60 civil society organizations (CSOs) delivering health services in Tanintharyi Region gathered in Dawei at a forum focused on universal health coverage (UHC) organized by Community Partners International (CPI) in partnership with Pyi Gyi Khin. The forum is part of a nationwide effort by CPI to raise awareness and understanding among health CSOs about UHC, and support their engagement and involvement in delivering a basic essential package of health services to their communities under the National Health Plan, 2017-2021 (NHP).

The Tanintharyi Region Health Director gave the opening remarks for the forum. These were followed by a series of knowledge transfer sessions to explain the concept of an equity-oriented health system, to explore the meaning of UHC, and to examine the potential role of CSOs in the implementation of the NHP.

Extensive participatory discussions were held to gather ideas and feedback from forum participants, and a group exercise was organized to formulate and share priorities related the the implementation of UHC in Tanintharyi Region.

During the closing sessions of the forum, participants worked together to establish the foundations for a formal Health CSO Network in Tanintharyi Region. The network will help to coordinate activities and unite the efforts of CSOs working in the health sector in Tanintharyi Region as part of a common platform to represent communities and advocate for their health service needs at the township and state level. They also selected focal persons to represent Tanintharyi Region in the National Health CSO Network.

The forum provided a valuable opportunity for CSO representatives 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 Tanintharyi Health CSO Forum was supported under CPI's Better Health Together project funded by the Open Society Foundations.