2023 WHD: Human health, fundamental to attainment of peace, security – WHO

Uyai-Abasi Etido




In commemoration of 2023 World Health Day, the World Health Organization has said that the health of all the people is fundamental to the attainment of peace and security in Nigeria.

In a statement by the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Matshidido Moeti, she said Nigeria will be a better place if people have access to proper medical attention.

The 2023 WHD
themed: “Health for All – Strengthening PHC to Build Resilient Systems,” also coincides with World Health Workers Week which runs from 7 to 11 April with the theme “Investing in the Health Work Force.”

Among reasons for the health crisis on the continent she listed include; shortage of qualified health workers; inadequate access to quality medicines, medical products, and innovative technologies.

Moeti acknowledged that COVID-19 pandemic, health emergencies, and worsening climate situations negatively impacted the continent’s efforts to accelerate progress toward achieving Universal Health Coverage, UHC.

According to her: “Health emergencies, many of which are driven by climate change, often disrupt access to safe water and sanitation services, increasing the risk of waterborne and vector-borne diseases.

“Ensuring add financial investment in PHC oriented by the building blocks of health systems, particularly a health workforce, health infrastructure, medicines, and health technologies, should be supported and guided by evidence.

“Ensuring additional investment to improve financial risk protection, addressing inequities, and building the resilience of national health systems in the post-COVID era is critical to our efforts to accelerate progress towards UHC in the African Region.

“Beyond health and wellbeing, UHC also contributes to social inclusion, gender equality, poverty eradication, economic growth, and human dignity.”

Speaking on WHO at 75, Moeti noted that WHO was founded 75 years ago with an ambitious objective, “the attainment of all peoples of the highest possible level of health.”

“The health of all peoples is fundamental to the attainment of peace and security and is dependent upon the fullest cooperation of individuals and states.

“Important achievements have been realised towards the aspirations of the leaders who founded WHO. Smallpox, which claimed an estimated 300 million lives in the 20th century alone, has been eradicated. Since 1974, millions of children have received life-saving vaccines and other child survival interventions.

“In 2020, the WHO Africa Region received certification for eradicating wild polioviruses.

“Scaling up essential health services and coverage with key interventions has yielded results. Between 2011 and 2021, new HIV infections in the WHO African Region were reduced by 44 per cent and AIDS-related deaths by 55 per cent. TB deaths in the region fell by 26 per cent between 2015 and 2021.

“I am proud to have worked alongside all of you these past years. I look forward to a renewed collaboration and determination to make even more progress in the years to come.”