The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reiterated its commitment to ensuring the right to health for all individuals, without discrimination of any kind, on Friday.
“At PAHO, we strive to fulfil this right to health by working with our member states to advance universal health for all, including for those populations living in situations of vulnerability,” said PAHO Director Dr Jarbas Barbosa, ahead of Sunday’s World Health Day (WHD).
The theme of this year’s World Health Day is “My health, my right.” It seeks to promote the right of all people, everywhere, to access quality health services, education and information, as well as safe drinking water and sanitation, clean air, good nutrition, quality housing, decent environmental and working conditions, adequate social protection, and freedom from discrimination, among others.
In 1948, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognized health as a human right in its Constitution. However, in the Americas, almost 30 per cent of the population has unmet health care needs, a situation exacerbated in low-income countries and the most impoverished and vulnerable communities.
To ensure the right to health, Barbosa stressed the importance of addressing the historical inequalities that prevent many from exercising this right, which were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Socio-economic conditions such as poverty and limited access to basic services expose people to a higher risk of disease. Financial, geographic, and cultural barriers also hinder access to care for some populations.”
PAHO recommends transforming health systems based on primary health care (PHC), a model centred on people and communities, which focuses on health, not disease.
It also calls for addressing the social and environmental determinants that condition health, well-being, and health equity of individuals and communities through intersectoral action.
Other recommendations to ensure equitable access to services include increasing investment in health to at least six per cent of gross domestic product (GDP), investing 30 per cent of these resources in the first level of care, and eliminating direct payments at the point of care.
Barbosa said PAHO continues to make progress in implementing its initiative to eliminate more than 30 infectious diseases and to promote actions against non-communicable diseases, such as cancer and diabetes.
He also emphasized PAHO’s work to strengthen the region’s health services by introducing innovations and technologies to enable them to respond more effectively and equitably to health threats.
“Health and well-being are central aspects of living a full life and should not be regarded as a privilege but rather viewed as the foundation from which society develops, grows, and prospers,” the PAHO Director said.
