Afrigather 
As we speak marks the 75th anniversary of the institution of the World Well being Group (WHO). On 7 April 1948, nations of the world got here collectively and signed the Constitution for the inspiration of WHO to advertise well being, maintain the world secure and serve the weak – so everybody, all over the place can attain the best stage of well being and well-being. In commemoration of this landmark initiative, April 7 is noticed yearly around the globe as World Well being Day. The theme for this yr is Well being for All.
Working with 194 Member States throughout the WHO regional places of work and in additional than 150 places of work, WHO envisions a world the place Well being for All is realized. The proper to well being is a primary human proper that promotes well being and wellbeing, dignity and a superb high quality of life for everybody, regardless of who they’re, the place they reside or what they do.
The WHO has been key associate in supporting the federal government of Liberia to attain its nationwide well being agenda.
Over the previous 64 years of WHO’s in collaboration with companions has supported the federal government of Liberia to attain higher well being outcomes and tangible progress in public well being with some key milestones. These milestones embody management of poliomyelitis, strong response to Ebola Virus Illness (EVD) outbreak and the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, prevention and management of communicable illnesses particularly malaria, and non-communicable and uncared for tropical illnesses by way of coverage and strategic steering, technical and operational help.
“WHO’s 75th anniversary is a chance for us to cease and replicate on the outstanding achievements in advancing the well being and wellbeing of the folks of Liberia,” says Dr. Clement Peter, WHO Consultant in Liberia. “It’s also the possibility for us to return collectively round our frequent objective and renew our dedication to sort out the challenges that lay forward.”
On the coronary heart of #healthforall is the attainment of Common Well being Protection (UHC), the place folks can have entry to reasonably priced, equitable, good high quality and sustainable well being care. Within the WHO African Area, round 25% of well being expenditure comes out of individuals’s pockets, thus contributing to pushing lots of of tens of millions of individuals within the African area additional beneath the poverty line. Nationwide well being methods ought to subsequently place main well being care because the entry level right into a well being system which not solely treats unwell well being, but additionally prevents sickness and promotes good well being all through life course.
When it comes to well being standing, the life expectancy in Liberia has considerably improved from 39.7 years (1971) to 64.1 years (2022) of the final 5 many years. Presently, Liberia’s Common Well being Important Providers Protection index stands at 42/100 towards the nationwide goal of 80/100.
The African area can be going through unprecedented well being emergencies, pushed by battle, political instability, and the consequences of local weather change. The Horn of Africa is experiencing the worst drought in 40 years and floods attributable to cyclones and tropical storms are hitting nations in southern Africa. These local weather occasions are driving outbreaks of measles, polio, mpox, cholera and yellow fever. There are ongoing illness outbreaks in 31 African nations and greater than half of those have a couple of concurrent outbreak.
The COVID-19 pandemic has rolled again the hard-won beneficial properties made in routine immunization towards vaccine-preventable childhood illnesses. Prior to now three years, it’s estimated that 21 million youngsters haven’t obtained a single vaccine dose. In 2021, the world noticed the worst continued decline in routine immunization in 30 years, and WHO estimates that, with out speedy motion to catch up and get again to regular, immunization protection is not going to return to 2019 ranges till 2027.
Regardless of these challenges, Liberia as a rustic made vital strides in containing the COVID-19 pandemic and stands because the second nation in Africa to have absolutely vaccinated 81% of its inhabitants by December 2022; at the moment, efforts are underway to combine COVID-19 vaccination into routine immunization. WHO has been on the centre of those milestones by way of the availability of technical, monetary, and logistical help.
Allow us to use this event to replicate on the well being providers we wish. Common well being protection (UHC) provides monetary safety and entry to high quality important providers, lifts folks out of poverty, promotes the well-being of households and communities, protects towards public well being crises, and strikes us towards #HealthForAll.
