Four Swedish regions, together with partner districts in Eastern Africa (Kenya and Uganda), form partnerships within the Network for Equitable Health. Through collaborative projects, they work to promote equity in healthcare through democracy-supporting methods in their respective communities.
Within the network, the regions and their partners receive support and training from ICLD. This includes joint network activities and access to experts and researchers in the field of equitable health, who are invited to share their knowledge and experience.
All exchanges between partners, such as travel, accommodation, and other related expenses for exchange visits and network meetings, are funded by ICLD.
Region Stockholm and Jinja City
The partnership runs several joint projects focusing on children’s rights in healthcare, pediatric emergency care, neonatology, and neurological diseases in children. The projects emphasise the importance of integrating democracy-supporting methods by involving policymakers and promoting transparency and participation in healthcare.
Region Norrbotten and Kajiado County
This partnership focuses on mental health issues among women before and after childbirth. By organising focus groups in several local languages and developing online training tools for healthcare professionals, the project aims to break the stigma surrounding mental health and implement evidence-based methods for screening and treatment.
Region Östergötland and Uasin Gishu County
This partnership aims to promote equitable cancer care. The project will strengthen capacity by training healthcare professionals in cancer diagnosis and treatment, improve access to cancer care in rural areas, encourage increased cancer screening, and involve local communities through health forums and community health volunteers.
Region Västerbotten and Homa Bay County
The partnership runs projects aimed at strengthening the health system through job shadowing and the exchange of experiences between healthcare staff and administrators. Special focus is placed on improving young people’s access to sexual, reproductive, and mental care, as well as on strengthening the engagement of local health promoters through data collection and grassroots-level information dissemination.
Timeframe: 2021-2025
Countries: Kenya, Sweden, Uganda
Partnerships in the network
Region Stockholm and Jinja City
Uganda
Topic: Children healthcare
Region Norrbotten and Kajiado County
Kenya
Topic: Women’s healthcare
Region Västerbotten and Homa Bay County
Kenya
Topic: Health governance
Region Östergötland and Uasin Gishu County
Kenya
Topic: Equitable cancer care
Voices from the network
What does Swedish politicans and project members have to say about the network?
”To strengthen a democratic approach, it is important that the principle of care based on need is guiding. This project will be an important part of the work for equitable healthcare in Östergötland and in Uasin Gishu.”
Kerstin Sjöberg
Member of the Regional Council, the Regional Executive Board, and the Health and Medical Services Committee
Region Östergötland
”Of course, we cannot do anything about the lack of resources within this collaboration. However, it is still possible to improve survival rates and quality of life, for example, through training for nurses in neonatal care or team training to enhance the care of critically ill children.”
Helena Hildenwall
Project Leader and Pediatrician at Astrid Lindgren’s Children’s Hospital
Region Stockholm