World Health Day: Renewing our commitment to progress towards « health for all »

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Extract from the article: World Health Day on 7 April marks 75 years of the World Health Organization (WHO). This year's theme is « Health for All". On this occasion, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Africa Region, called on all states to

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World Health Day on 7 April marks 75 years of the World Health Organization (WHO). This year's theme is « Health for All". On this occasion, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Africa Region, called on all states to ensure access to health care for every individual so that they can grow, develop and achieve their full potential. It is important to « enable all people to attain the highest possible level of health».

The Covid-19 pandemic, health emergencies and deteriorating climatic conditions are having a negative impact on the continent's efforts to accelerate progress towards achieving universal health coverage. « About 672 million Africans, or 48% of the continent's population, still lack access to the quality health care they need.  Health emergencies, many of which are caused by climate change, often disrupt access to safe water and sanitation services, increasing the risk of water- and vector-borne diseases », said WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr Matshidiso Moeti.

Dr Moeti said this was due to weak health systems, characterised by inadequate health infrastructure and poorly designed policies to reduce financial barriers to accessing health services. She also identified the shortage of skilled health workers, insufficient access to quality medicines, medical products and innovative technologies as some of the causes of the health crisis on the continent.

However, strengthening health systems based on strong primary health care is essential to building back better and accelerating progress towards universal health and health security. Financial investment in primary health care, focusing on the building blocks of health systems, particularly the health workforce, health infrastructure, medicines and health technologies, must be sustained and guided by evidence.

« Additional investments to improve financial risk protection, address inequities and strengthen the resilience of national health systems post-Covid-19 are essential if we are to succeed in our efforts to accelerate progress towards universal health coverage in the African Region », said the WHO Regional Director for Africa.

For Dr Matshidiso Moeti, although most Member States in the African Region have made the achievement of universal health coverage a central objective of their national health strategies, progress in translating these advances into equitable and quality services and in increasing financial protection for the population remains varied.

Raymond DZAKPATA