Annual health-sector performance report 2022 cites high death rate among young men |28 July 2023

Minister Vidot addressing the gathering

 First report, a year after National Strategic Plan implementation

The Ministry of Health in partnership with the World Health Organisation held the first of its one-and-a-half-day workshops yesterday at the STC conference hall.

The purpose of the workshop is to disseminate the findings of the 2022 Annual Health Sector Performance Report. It gives health professionals and audiences outside of health, the opportunity to discuss, assimilate and react to the report and also to the first year of the implementation of the National Health Strategic Plan, 2022-2026, and getting further information on it.

In her speech, the Minister for Health, Peggy Vidot, said that much has changed in the health landscape since the first report, and the challenges that are being faced today are even greater than they were six years ago.

“We acknowledge that the response we have mounted to meet these challenges have strengthened our capacity. With every new graduate joining the service, with every effort to promote professionalism and continuing learning, we are better prepared to meet the needs of our people,” she said.

She added that the Annual Performance Report has improved and developed over its short history where the content and quality of each annual report reflects the increasing participation and skills of those who contribute to the final product.

“It is my fervent hope and expectation that today’s and tomorrow’s meetings are used as opportunities to galvanise the health system and the nation into greater and sustained action. Let us make each minute of our meeting count.”

The year 2022 was the first year of the implementation of the new National Health Strategic Plan (NHSP) 2022-2026. The goals of the new strategic plan are coherent with national, regional, and global commitments, which looks at increased life expectancy and healthy life expectancy, Achieving and sustaining all dimensions of Universal Health Coverage, ‘Prepare, Prevent, Detect’ early and respond to all health emergencies, as well as promote healthy populations.

The Ministry of Health develops a health-sector performance report every year as part of its governance function and for sector accountability in line with RBM recommendations. The Annual Health-Sector Performance Report (APR) gives an account of progress made by the health sector in 2022 towards national and global commitments.

Yesterday’sworkshop saw multiple presentations including Leadership and Governance, Health Status, Health Security and Health System.

Dr Sajeev Pugazhendhi, Principal Policy Analyst and one of the presenters said that the report shows progress in terms of new guidance in the sector.

“We launch our strategic plan last year and we are comparing it with priorities principles and targets that we have set ourselves in this plan,” he said.

He added that they have been working on improving the quality of service in Seychelles. “We have begun to develop our strategy to guide the improvement of the quality of service in the health system and it has shown great progress,” he stated.

Some alarming findings within the report were the high death rate that was recorded predominantly in young men with cardiovascular diseases being the main cause followed by Covid-19 and cancer. Also there was an increase in death by accidents, suicides and homicides recorded.

“Yes we have recorded this, however, if we want to address the cause of these deaths we would have to revert to other sectors as it does not fall under the health sector. And that is what we will be discussing on the second day with the other partners,” said Dr Pugazhendhi.

He concluded by saying that he hopes to engage and work with the private sector to get a more accurate and national report.

It was also revealed that the number of Cuban doctors are reducing in Seychelles and this was due to the changes in the quotas, where Cuban doctors leave as their contracts come to an end. New expatriate doctors will be recruited to replace them.

Diane Larame

Photos by Yann Dinan