What We're Reading: Week of February 18

This post is part of a new series we’re launching on the PHCPI blog. Every week, we’ll share our favorite articles on primary health care and related topics that you can’t miss.

• At the 32nd African Union Summit, leaders pledged to increase domestic financing for health systems. Countries have previously agreed to spend at least 15% of their budget on health in the past, yet only two out of the 55 member states are currently doing so.
• Although groups remain cautiously optimistic about the fast-approaching UN High Level Meeting on UHC, civil society leaders note that without accountability measures and additional resources, the meeting may fall short of achieving its goals.
• The Africa Health Conference 2019 is less than a month away. Bringing together ministers of health, advocates, youth activists and innovators, this year’s conference will focus on charting a path toward universal health coverage. Registration closes February 28. 
• Last week, Bill and Melinda Gates released their foundation’s annual letter, which explained why they invest in data: it helps create better policies and drive more equitable health outcomes.
• While poorer African countries, such as eSwatini, are on track to eliminate deadly neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in the next few years, some of their richer counterparts are paradoxically lagging behind. These countries do not see NTDs as a priority health area, which has slowed progress in rolling out effective prevention measures.
• Infectious diseases still threaten the lives of millions of people worldwide. Last week, CEPI and IVI announced a new partnership to accelerate the development of a vaccine for MERS, Lassa Fever and Nipah.
• Limited access to vaccines in conflict areas and the rise of anti-vaccination campaigns in western countries are both to blame for the 50 percent jump in measles cases worldwide over the past year. 
• The Lancet recently launched a theme issue on women in global health, calling for the medical, global health and science fields to address gender disparities. An op-ed in the issue identifies greater investment in the female health workforce as one way to simultaneously improve gender parity and address the global shortage of health workers.

Read something we missed? We'd love to hear from you! Submit your favorite articles on primary health care or related topics from the week to info@improvingphc.org, or tag us in your tweet @ImprovingPHC