Afrigather Op Ed
Dr. Clement Peter- WHO Consultant – Liberia
The theme of this years’ World Well being Day, “My Well being, My Proper,” encourages us to scale back inequity and boundaries affecting entry to well being providers wherever and each time folks want them. This theme resonates properly with the present inequities to accessing well being care globally, but additionally in least developed international locations together with Liberia. Marginalized and hard-to-reach communities usually endure disproportionately. Therefore, to realize Common Well being Protection (UHC), we should depart nobody behind. Restricted entry to well being data, lifesaving well being care providers, important medicines and well being commodities, in addition to weak well being infrastructure have profound affect on the standard of well being care and its outcomes. The disparity in entry to well being care impacts and impacts closely on youngsters, adolescents and girls, particularly pregnant girls.
Many international locations together with Liberia have enshrined the proper to well being of their constitutions, a proper we should attempt to make a actuality for each citizen. Narrowing the inequity boundaries is a step in the proper path to enhance well being and wellbeing of each citizen. This daring method will assist to scale back the unacceptable and preventable sicknesses and deaths that usually have an effect on youngsters and girls. For instance, Liberia declared maternal and neonatal mortality a public well being emergency virtually seven years in the past, however we’re nonetheless removed from considerably decreasing the excessive deaths amongst neonates and girls, and in addition off-track in reaching the Sustainable Growth Objective (goal). The nation continues to be challenged amongst others, with weak infrastructure affecting entry in rural communities, weak well being system, insufficient funding to the well being sector, and really restricted neighborhood insurance coverage scheme.
Well being shouldn’t be merely the absence of illness however a state of full bodily, psychological, and social well-being as outlined by the World Well being Group (WHO). It’s a human proper, as enshrined within the Common Declaration of Human Rights. Nonetheless, reaching well being fairness requires strong dedication in addressing the underlying social determinants of well being, together with poverty, inequality, infrastructure, training, and water and sanitation simply to say just a few.
The shocks from the unprecedented Ebola Virus Illness (EVD) outbreak and the latest COVID-19 pandemic have additional exacerbated these disparities, highlighting the necessity for a extra complete, built-in and inclusive method to healthcare. Whereas the pandemic has examined the nation’s resilience, it has additionally underscored the significance of partnership, solidarity and collaboration in addressing world well being challenges.
Funding within the well being sector can’t be overemphasized as a result of well being is central to productiveness and growth. It’s pleasing to notice that the federal government of Liberia is within the course of of accelerating the price range allocation to well being, making it a precedence within the ARREST agenda. This motion is commendable. Significant funding on this sector stays paramount in reaching higher well being outcomes.
Reflecting on the theme of this yr’s World Well being Day, my consideration is drawn to a 16-year woman, Pamela (not her actual identify) from Brewerville neighborhood, whose life modified following problems from tuberculosis, which affected her backbone and ultimately her skill to stroll. With no strolling aids, life turned for the more serious, as her mom needed to put in additional time to look after her daughter as a substitute of addressing different household wants and fascinating in growth work. The well timed provision of help to an individual in want is usually a sport changer. With assistive know-how help, it was wonderful to see the distinction crutches could make in a lifetime of such a possible woman. Right this moment Pamela is again at school, taking part in together with her buddies like some other little one, and scoring very excessive grades in class, making her second at school previously semester. Pamela’s story speaks volumes of the various individuals dwelling with disabilities or virtually uncared for in Liberia who could not have had a chance to obtain the restricted assistive know-how provides or have entry to well being care when and the place they want it.
On this World Well being Day, allow us to make the dedication and paradigm shift to:
1. Prioritize investments in healthcare, making certain equitable entry to important providers throughout the nation. Investing in healthcare infrastructure and strengthening the well being system is vital.
2. Inserting communities on the forefront within the planning and supply of well being providers. Participating communities on well being preventative measures, hygiene practices and empowering them to take possession of well being providers is vital.
3. Partnership, collaboration and solidarity are cardinal. WHO stays a dedicated companion to the federal government of Liberia in reaching the nationwide well being agenda and making certain all Liberians obtain higher well being and wellbeing.
This yr, allow us to not simply have a good time the proper to well being, however actively work in the direction of its success. Allow us to be certain that each Liberian, no matter background or location, can entry the healthcare they deserve with out monetary hardship or discrimination. A wholesome Liberia is a thriving Liberia, and collectively, we will make it a reality- by selling and committing to common entry to well being care. My well being, your well being, our collective well being – is a proper to well being and wellbeing for all Liberians.
