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twelfth December 2022, Monrovia: Liberia joined the worldwide neighborhood in commemoration of Common Well being Protection (UHC) Day beneath the theme – Constructing the Liberia we wish: A Wholesome Future for All. Climaxing this essential occasion, the nation launched seven coverage and strategic well being paperwork as an indication of well being and well-being being an important precedence for Liberia’s growth. The day started with a solidarity stroll from Ministerial Complicated to the Ministry of Well being. In the course of the official occasion held within the Ministry of Well being convention room, the Deputy Minister of Well being Norwu Howard, referred to as on the nation to think about a Liberia the place everybody performs a task in making well being for all a actuality.
“Think about a Liberia the place an enabling setting exists with the precise insurance policies in place to make sure that all Liberians have entry to the well being companies they want, when and the place they want them, with out monetary hardship, from preventive care to remedy and rehabilitation to palliative care—that is what Common Well being Protection is.”, stated Minister Howard.
Different stakeholders, together with UNICEF and USAID, echoed the necessity to enhance Liberia’s well being techniques so that every one individuals and communities have entry to important well being care companies when and the place they want them with out struggling monetary hardship. It is a package deal consisting of preventive work, well being promotion, and remedy throughout the life course.
Dr. Clement Peter, WHO Liberia Nation Consultant who was the important thing observe speaker, reminded the viewers that the COVID-19 pandemic served as a reminder to humanity that well being and well-being are central to peace, growth, and prosperity, and that lifting individuals out of poverty is crucial in selling the well-being of communities, households, and stopping public well being crises.
“We reside in a world the place at the least half of the individuals don’t obtain the well being care service they want; round 100 million individuals annually are pushed into poverty due to out-of-pocket expenditures on well being; almost 930 million spend 10% of their family earnings on well being care; and the state of affairs in Liberia will not be completely different, and the pandemic solely bloated the truth. These figures are surprising and require pressing motion if we need to construct the world and the Liberia we wish”, stated Dr Clement.
“The info earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic in Liberia reveals that entry to healthcare companies inside a 5km stroll was round 71% with 53% accounting for out-of-pocket expenditure. Solely 3.8% of the inhabitants has some type of medical insurance, 45% of girls have issues accessing well being care when sick, resulting from lack of cash and strolling lengthy distances. While acknowledging the challenges influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s time to construct resilient well being techniques, which would be the engine to ship reasonably priced and important well being companies for all Liberians,” stated Dr. Clement.
He recommended the federal government of Liberia for demonstrating an unwavering dedication to reaching UHC because the nation launched some key coverage and strategic well being devices in honor of the day.
In his conclusion, Dr. Peter referred to as on political leaders to make smarter investments in well being and inspired companions and stakeholders to make commitments in the direction of common well being protection by 2030 – with entry to well being companies, monetary danger safety, fairness, and high quality healthcare as key pillars within the pathway in the direction of well being for all Liberians and the Liberia we wish.
“Fairness is crucial in reaching well being for all, and well being techniques should work for all Liberians, no matter the place they reside or their social or financial standing; whether or not you reside in Rivergee, Grand Cape Mount, Rivercess, Sinoe, or Nimba, you might have the precise to reasonably priced and high-quality well being care. Monetary safety is vital “, emphasised Dr Peter.
The indoor occasion was climaxed by the Appearing Minister of Well being, Norwu Howard launching the next coverage and strategic paperwork; Nationwide Well being Coverage 2022-2031, Well being Sector Strategic Plan (UHC Highway Map) 2022-2026, Important Package deal of Well being Companies II 2022-2026, Important Package deal for Common Well being Protection 2022, Respectful Maternity Care Technique 2023-2027, Nationwide Coverage On Medical Oxygen 2022-2031, Nationwide Scientific Pointers for Hypoxia and Oxygen remedy 2022.
Yearly on December 12, UHC Day is noticed as a time to encourage decision-makers to take a position wiser and transfer ahead with initiatives geared toward reaching “Well being for All.” The emphasis of this yr’s theme is on the need of fairness, belief, wholesome environment, investments, and accountability for the event of efficient well being techniques. Nevertheless, there are disparities in service supply and monetary hardship all through the world, notably in communities which might be weak and exhausting to achieve. The celebration of Common Well being Protection Day kicks off the UN Common Meeting’s high-level assembly on UHC in 2023 and the WHO’s seventy fifth anniversary of constructing well being for all a actuality.
When the 2030 Sustainable Improvement Objectives (SDGs) had been accepted by the member states in 2015, reaching UHC was one among their core commitments. International locations reaffirmed that well being is a prerequisite for, results of, and an indicator of the social, financial, and environmental parts of sustainable growth. By 2025, UHC is anticipated to profit 1 billion extra individuals, and the WHO’s Thirteenth Common Programme of Work additionally intends to guard 1 billion extra individuals from well being emergencies and enhance 1 billion extra individuals’s well being and well-being.
