What is the need?
“The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition.”
As we all have seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, some people are able to live healthier lives and have better access to health services than others - entirely due to the conditions in which they are born, grow, live, work and age.
All over the world, some groups struggle to make ends meet with
little daily income,
have poorer housing conditions and education,
fewer employment opportunities,
experience greater gender inequality, and
have little or no access to safe environments, clean water, and air, food security and
health services.
This leads to unnecessary suffering, avoidable illness, and premature death. And it harms our societies and economies.
That’s why it is needed to ensure that everyone has living and working conditions that are conducive to good health.
At the same time, we have to monitor health inequities and ensure that all people are able to access quality health services when and where they need them.
COVID-19 has hit all countries hard, but its impact has been harshest on those communities which were already vulnerable, who are more exposed to the disease, less likely to have access to quality health care services, and more likely to experience adverse consequences as a result of measures implemented to contain the pandemic.
When is it celebrated?
The World Health Day celebrated annually on 7th April and each year it draws attention to a specific health topic of concern to people all over the world.
The date of 7 April marks the anniversary of the founding of WHO in 1948 and since taking effect in 1950.
This year, On World Health Day, 7 April 2021, we will be joining hands together for a new campaign to "build a fairer, healthier world."
We need leaders to:
Work together:
Work hand in hand with affected communities and individuals to address the root causes of inequities and to implement solutions – within and beyond the health sector – to address them.
The impact will be greatest when governments and communities work together, in a coordinated approach.
Collect reliable data:
Ensure collection and use of timely and reliable health data - disaggregated by gender, age, income, education, migratory status, disability, geographic location, and other characteristics relevant to the national context.
Only then it is possible to assess inequities across population subgroups and take actions that have an impact.
Tackle inequities:
Adopt a whole-of-government approach to tackling the root causes of inequities and increase investment in primary health care.
This is key to meeting today’s challenges of ensuring Health for All and to building the resilience of tomorrow.
Act beyond borders:
Act beyond national borders: For example, only when we can protect, test, and treat the whole global population can we end the COVID-19 pandemic.
As well as assuring an equitable supply of vaccines, tests, and treatments, we must strengthen national and international mechanisms and build community trust and participation into their delivery and uptake to ensure access for all globally.
References:
- https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-health-day/2021
- https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-health-day
- https://www.who.int/health-topics/social-determinants-of-health#tab=tab_1
- https://www.who.int/health-topics/gender#tab=tab_1
- https://www.who.int/health-topics/universal-health-coverage#tab=tab_1
- https://www.who.int/health-topics/primary-health-care#tab=tab_1
- https://www.who.int/health-topics/urban-health
- https://www.who.int/activities/promoting-health-in-all-policies-and-intersectoral-action-capacities
- https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/human-rights-and-health
- https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/universal-health-coverage-(uhc)
- https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/primary-health-care
- https://www.who.int/initiatives/sdg3-global-action-plan
- https://www.who.int/data/gho/health-equity
- https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/EB148/B148_R2-en.pdf
- https://www.who.int/westernpacific/news/multimedia/infographics/health-equity
- https://www.who.int/westernpacific/news/events/detail/2021/04/07/western-pacific-events/world-health-day-2021
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