Access to health during the coronavirus pandemic highlighted the great inequalities that persist between the richest and the least fortunate.
“Our world is uneven. As Covid-19 has shown, some people can lead healthier lives and have better access to health services than others, due entirely to the conditions in which they are born, grow, live, work and age. “, Says the World Health Organization (WHO).
This inequality motivated the international body to dedicate World Health Day, which will be celebrated tomorrow, April 7, to the theme “Building a fairer and healthier world.”
The celebration is a campaign in which the entity highlights how, around the world, some groups struggle to reach the end of the month with low daily income, have worse housing and education conditions and fewer employment opportunities, experience a greater gender inequality and have little or no access to safe environments, clean water and air, food security and health services.
He explains that all this causes unnecessary suffering, preventable diseases and premature deaths. And it also harms our societies and economies.
“This is not only unfair: it is preventable. That is why we ask leaders to ensure that all people have living and working conditions that promote good health. At the same time, we urge leaders to monitor inequalities in terms of health. health and to ensure that all people have access to quality health services when and where they need them, “the institution said in a statement.
The measures that, according to the WHO, must be taken by world leaders are the following:
work together
Work hand in hand with affected communities and individuals to address the root causes of inequalities and implement solutions – within and outside the health sector – to address them. The impact will be greater when governments and communities work together in a coordinated manner.
Collect reliable data
Ensure the collection and use of timely and reliable health data, disaggregated by sex, age, income, education, migration status, disability, geographical location and other characteristics relevant to the national context. Only in this way is it possible to assess inequalities between population subgroups and take measures that have an impact.
Addressing inequalities
Adopt a government-wide approach to addressing the root causes of inequalities and increasing investment in primary health care. This is essential to meet the current challenges of ensuring “Health for All” and to build the resilience of the future.
Acting beyond borders
Act beyond national borders. For example, only when we can protect, test and treat the entire world population will we be able to end the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to ensuring an equitable supply of vaccines, testing and treatment, we need to strengthen national and international mechanisms and foster trust and community participation in their supply and use in order to ensure access for all at the local level. world.
SPECIAL ACTIVITIES
Higher. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) invites the virtual panel “Building a fairer, more equitable and healthier world after COVID-19 in the Region of the Americas.” It’s this Wednesday, April 7 from 9:00 to 10:00 AM (Dominican time). It will be done via Zoom, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter with simultaneous interpretation in English, Spanish, Portuguese, sign language and subtitles.
Dedication. The year 2021 was designated as the International Year of Health and Welfare Workers “to recognize and thank the indestructible dedication of these workers to the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.”