A protocol that ensures the continuity of the project “Health for All” was signed between Mr. Américo Ramos, the Minister of Finance and International Cooperation of the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Mr. Paulo Freitas, IMVF Administrator, and Professor Paula Laborinho, Chairperson of Camões – Institute for Cooperation and Language, IP.
With a four-years duration – for the period 2012-2015 – the new “Health for All: Integrated Programme” represents the convergence of two already completed projects on health issues, in the areas of Primary Care, Specialised Health Care and also telemedicine.
The investment is approximately 5.700 million euros, of which 3.800 million are assumed by the Portuguese Cooperation and the rest by IMVF, with the support of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. Although with a smaller budget compared to previous years, the renewal of this protocol represents a clear commitment in priority areas and strategies in cooperation and development for Sao Tome and Principe.
The said project comprises what the Ministry of Health of Sao Tome and IMVF believe to be the next step towards the common goal of continuing to promote and ensure the future consolidation of the National Health Service of Sao Tome and Principe. As part of the “Health for All: Integrated Programme” they are two distinct projects: the first – primary care – will continue to meet the needs of the population in terms of primary and secondary – specialised care – answering the demands of the current national epidemiological profile, promoting the reduction of current costs (financial and social) associated with the medical evacuation process.
Thus, the first project aims to ensure equitable and easy access to low cost primary care, the commitment to prevention and early treatment of clinical conditions, with a special emphasis on achieving the Millennium Development Goals, with respect to health and an increased focus on combating chronic diseases and non-communicable diseases.
On the other hand, the project of specialised care aims to answer in loco many outstanding clinical situations through missions of medical experts properly planned and equipped with the necessary technical resources to which is added the role of telemedicine as a complimentary assistance at a distance and as a tool for training and monitoring of patients to be evacuated.