Our Focus

Health and Social Protection


Integrated solutions for good health and well-being

UNDP supports the Government of Guinea-Bissau to tackle complex challenges such as continuing burden of HIV and other infectious diseases, and emerging challenges such as non-communicable diseases as well as COVID-19. Universal health coverage will be integral to achieving SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), ending poverty and reducing inequalities. Multi-sectoral, rights-based and inclusive approaches are essential to address inequalities and achieve good health for all.

Universal Health Coverage for Vulnerable Groups

Guinea-Bissau is a low-income country with a population of approximately 2 million inhabitants, 41% of whom are under the age of 15. Key indicators for health remain very low, and life expectancy is 59 years. The country is divided into 11 health regions which, in turn, are split into 114 health districts. Forty-five percent (45%) of the population lives more than 5 kilometers away from a health center. Universal health coverage is integral to delivering the SDGs and must ensure that all people obtain the health services they need without suffering financial hardship when paying for them. Due to UNDP’s intervention, Malaria services are not charged to the population in public institution, and we are doing our best to extend this free service for other health burdens.

Decrease morbidity and mortality related to malaria

Malaria is endemic and the leading cause of mortality in Guinea-Bissau. It is also the main reason of death among pregnant women and children under five. Whilst malaria remains in the control phase, the country has been successful in significantly reducing prevalence. The UNDP-managed Global Fund malaria programme has promoted the use of long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets (LLINs), and intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) for pregnant women following national protocols, community-based case management as well as the seasonal chemoprophylaxis.

Data digitalization and improvement of monitoring and evaluation mechanisms

UNDP helps Guinea-Bissau to strengthen M&E tools and implement innovative practices. Like in many African countries, Guinea-Bissau has limited access to mobile software or WIFI, coupled with poor roads and long distances travelled between communities to gather information, means reporting is often a laborious and complicated task. A partnership between UNDP, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund), the government and the World Bank is introducing real-time monitoring using mobile tablets to digitize malaria data in 45 health facilities, with the hope of expanding to cover all 136 health facilities in the country by 2021. The utilization of this technology is now strengthening the capacity of the national government to map, track, prevent and treat malaria outbreaks in real time. Early 2020, with the COVID-19 outbreak, UNDP helped the Government extend the digital data package, to allow the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders to understand, monitor and respond to the pandemic.

Sustainable and cost-effective supply chain and stock management systems

Guinea-Bissau has poor infrastructure in terms of roads and connectivity. Avoiding supply chain disruption and keep update stock management is not straightforward.UNDP in partnership with Global Fund is building a new warehouse to provide Guinea-Bissau with a world-class medical drugs storage center. Also, UNDP works in close collaboration with Ministry of Health to increase human resources capacity to use digital tools and online system focused on stock management. Also, UNDP is responsible for purchasing and delivering drugs for Malaria, TB and HIV. Finally, during COVID-19 pandemic UNDP has partnered with World Bank, Global Fund and WHO to escalate procurement capacity during a challenging supply chain scenario and was able to deliver important medical equipment on time while having important savings. This result was achieved by an integrated procurement system provided by UNDP with hubs in Copenhagen, Addis and Beijing.