Prof. Justice Nonvignon, a Professor at the Department of Health Policy, Planning, and Management at the School of Public Health of the University of Ghana, has lamented the low investment in health development in Africa.
He was speaking at his inaugural lecture on “The Pursuit of Health amidst Scarcity: Economics, Health, and the Romance In-Between,” held at the Great Hall on Thursday, July 28, 2023.
While discussing the crucial link between health and the economy, particularly in resource-constrained settings like Africa, Prof. Nonvignon drew attention to the lack of commitment from African governments in allocating 15% of their annual budget to developing the health sector, in their various countries as stipulated by the Abuja 2001 Declaration.
He noted with sadness that no more than three African countries had achieved this target and called for the prioritisation of health plans in the subregion.
Prof. Nonvignon highlighted some significant obstacles facing the continent’s health sector. “Over-dependence on donor support, lack of demand and supply of evidence, based on policy-makers needs and low policy visibility for health technological assessments are part of these major challenges.” he disclosed.
He added, "It was important to build a strong finance and health interface so that African Ministries of Health will find it easier to include evidence in policy making.”
Prof. Justice Nonvignon also advocated for harmonizing efforts between academic partners and Ministries of Health and Finance to steer the continent's future in line with the Africa Union’s Agenda 2063, which aims to transform Africa into a global powerhouse.
On the maintenance or otherwise of the controversial Covid-19 levy, Prof. Nonvignon argued that “one of the biggest mistakes we will make as a nation will be to put pressure on the government to scrape such a levy because it has the potential to raise between $100million to $600million annually for health, which is about 60%-70% increase in the health budget”.
He was confident that when the funds accrued from the levy are earmarked for health research, it will be easy to monitor what the government spends the money on.
Prof. Justice Nonvignon, the first Professor of Health Economics at a University in Ghana, spoke based on specific examples from his research and
evidence-policy initiatives, which have been the focus of his work over the past five years.
The inaugural lecture delivered by Prof. Justice Nonvignon was to mark his promotion to full professorship by the University Council in September 2021, having spent the last 15 years of experience in teaching, research, and technical assistance to governments and development programmes.
Aside lecturing and conducting research, Prof. Nonvignon has been dedicated to helping African countries implement a framework for systematically incorporating Evidence-Informed Priority Setting (EIPS) into health decision-making.
In his role as the Acting Head of the Health Economics Programme (HEP) at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, he spearheads the development of strategies to help grow the HEP into a continental programme that supports continental agencies and programmes and ensures African Union Member States leverage health economics capacity and evidence for policies.
The lecture, which was the fifth Inaugural Lecture for the 2022/2023 academic year, was chaired by the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo.
Earlier in an introductory statement, the Registrar, Mrs. Emelia Adjei-Mensah, welcomed all gathered to the lecture. She explained that “the delivery of inaugural lectures is a tradition in the University as well as a sign and testament of the strength of the academics and their units in the University.”
In her remarks as Chairperson, Prof. Amfo congratulated Prof. Nonvignon for a well-delivered lecture that contained impactful research through work done locally and continentally. She noted his zeal for mentorship, capacity building, and collaboration and urged him to achieve more laurels.
Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo
Presentations were made to Prof. Nonvignon from his wife and children, the Department of Health Policy, Planning and Management, School of Public Health, Benkum Secondary School Old Students Association (1998 Year Group), and other well-wishers.
Prof. Nonvignon receiving a presentation from his wife after the Lecture
The lecture was attended by Pro-Vice-Chancellors, Prof. Felix Asante and Prof. Gordon Awandare, as well as colleagues of Prof. Nonvingnon from the School of Public Health and the College of Health Sciences. Also present were Prof. Ivan Adade Mensah, former Vice-Chancellor; Prof. John Gyapong, former Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Research Development and Innovation and Development and former Vice-Chancellor, University of Health and Allied Sciences; Prof. Fred Binka, past Dean, the School of Public Health and former Vice-Chancellor, University of Health and Allied Sciences; Prof. Richard Adanu, past Dean, School of Public Health and Rector, Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons.
It was also attended by ministers of state, parliamentarians, members of the diplomatic corps, the clergy, friends, associates, faculty members, students, staff, and members of the public.
The Ghana Dance Ensemble also graced the occasion with exciting cultural performances and cultural appellation to herald the lecturer.
A cross-section of the audience seated at the lecture
As a prelude to Prof. Justice Nonvignon’s inaugural lecture, a week-long exhibition of his works was held at the Balme Library. The exhibition centered on his research in costing, economic evaluation, health technology assessments, health financing, efficiency analysis, impact evaluation, and health policy and systems analysis.
