The World Health Organisation (WHO) says its 70 years of existence in Africa has enabled more than half of the people living with HIV in the region to access life saving treatment for the disease.
Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO Regional Director for Africa,said this in Abuja on Saturday in her message to mark the World Health Day 2018 with the theme: “Universal Health Coverage: Everyone, Everywhere”.
She said that the organisations work in the region for the past seven decades has also led to advances in health and health technology including life saving medicines for diseases like tuberculosis, malaria, hypertension and diabetes.
Moeti said that in the region, health outcomes have also improved through strategies such as distributing insecticide treated nets for malaria and vaccinating against the Human Papilloma Virus which causes cervical cancer.
She said that between 2010 and 2016, new cases of malaria had dropped by 20 per cent and there were 37 per cent fewer deaths due to malaria.
According to Moeti, in 2016 the risk of developing pneumonia and meningitis reduced in up to two-third of children on the continent because they were vaccinated compared to only 33 per cent in 2010.
“In 2012, Africa accounted for over 50 per cent of polio cases globally but since August 2016, the region has not reported any case of wild polio virus.
“Much more needs to be done, however, to curb the increase in non-communicable diseases such as cancer, hypertension, and tackle epidemics such as Ebola and anti microbial resistance and substandard and falsified medicines.
“Countries must strive to improve governance and information systems to ensure proper regulation and accountability to their communities and partners, effective leadership and high level commitment are critical to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
“Adequate and sustained investment in health is necessary to ensuring equitable access to health services.
“Countries in the region including Burkina Faso, Burundi, Ghana, Liberia, Senegal and Uganda have demonstrated that removing user fees systematically increases utilisation rates of health services.
“Rwanda health insurance scheme expanded access to quality health services for people from 70 per cent in 2003 to 91 per cent in 2010,” Moeti said.
She urged member states to address the major challenge of inadequate workforce by investing and training of community health workers.
She said that these workers helped to contribute to the delivery of essential health services.
Moeti said that for the commemoration of the World Health Day, the organisation was focusing on member states’ preparedness to reach UHC by 2030.
She said that UHC meant ensuring everyone no matter where they lived or who they were could access essential and quality health services without facing financial hardship.
She said “this is a powerful equaliser that ensures health for all and enhances health security, reduces poverty and promotes gender equality.
Moeti reiterated the organisation’s commitment to supporting member states in achieving UHC.
She said that the organisation has developed a framework of actions to assist countries in selecting their own parts in achieving UHC and the SDGs.
Moeti urged African leaders to live up to the SDGs pledges they made in 2015 of achieving UHC by 2030 and to commit to concrete actions towards achieving the goal. (NAN)
