Background: An opportunity to transform primary health care

2. Health service delivery in nine African countries

Background: An opportunity to transform primary health care

One of the most basic human aspirations is to live a long and healthy life. When health problems do arise, people want to receive good medical care close to their home. To meet these aspirations, governments and partners have worked to protect and promote health through primary health care (PHC) (UNICEF and WHO 1978). For four decades, PHC reform has been at the center of global efforts to expand access to health services and improve health outcomes. PHC values have been reflected in the Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals (UN 2011; UN General Assembly 2015). Recently, country health leaders have reaffirmed their recognition that achieving universal health coverage depends on the ability of governments to expand PHC access to marginalized groups while ensuring high-quality care for all (WHO 2013a, 2013b; WHO, OECD, and World Bank 2018).