AFC Rolls Out Comprehensive Health Policy
Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News.
Launched under the theme “Care for Every Life, Dignity for Every Stage,” the Alliance for Change (AFC) unveiled its health policy, pledging universal access to quality healthcare regardless of geography, income, or social status.
A centerpiece of the plan is universal primary care and prevention, with the AFC promising to maintain free services at all health centers. Annual health screenings would be provided for high school students and public servants, while vaccination and immunization programs would be expanded, especially in hinterland and Indigenous communities.
The party places strong emphasis on mental health, identifying it as a national priority. Proposals include establishing a National Mental Health Institute, deploying a core of mental health workers across hospitals, schools, and communities, and introducing a 24-hour crisis hotline. A nationwide education and anti-stigma campaign would also be launched.
To tackle shortages in the health sector, the AFC commits to recruiting 10,000 nurses, doctors, and allied professionals within its first year. Incentives would be introduced to attract diaspora and Commonwealth specialists, alongside the establishment of new nursing and dental schools in underserved regions.
The policy also ensures universal treatment and medication access, including free dialysis services, subsidized drugs and lab tests, and a strengthened supply chain to prevent shortages. A digital health component proposes nationwide electronic medical records within five years, expanded telemedicine, and the use of artificial intelligence for diagnostics and resource management.
Other initiatives include programs to curb lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, a maternal and child nutrition voucher program, and climate-resilient upgrades to health facilities. The AFC further pledges to integrate palliative care into hospitals and establish hospice units nationwide.
