Health is a Right but not (yet) Universal

More than 4.5 billion people globally still do not have access to adequate healthcare services. Currently, across the African continent, approximately 2 million qualified healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses, midwives) are caring for a population of 1.2 billion people. Sub-Saharan Africa is home to 20% of all sick people in the world, and 50% of global child deaths occur.

by EDITORIAL STAFF

“Without the right to health, one cannot enjoy other rights. You cannot exercise your right to vote if you are not in good health. You cannot access the right to education if you are not healthy”, says Githinji Gitahi, Global Director of Amref Health Africa, in a video message  on World Health Day, which this year focuses on the theme “My health, my right.”

«When someone gets sick», continues  Gitahi, “they should be able to access the services they need regardless of how much they earn. This is the true meaning of Universal Health Coverage. In many areas where we operate, communities live more than 50 kilometres from a health facility, very often to be reached on foot.” 

Despite progress made in recent decades, WHO estimates that more than  4.5 billion people globally still do not have access to adequate health services. According to a recent survey by Ipsos for Amref (2023), “Africa and Health: the opinion of Italians,” 68% of Italians agree that health protection in low-income countries should be a priority and everyone’s responsibility. This data highlights the importance of addressing health challenges comprehensively and taking an integrated approach to ensuring the health and well-being of all people, wherever they live. 

Currently, across the African continent, approximately 2 million qualified healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses, midwives) care for a population of 1.2 billion.

Sub-Saharan Africa is home to  20% of all sick people in the world, and 50% of global child deaths occur. «In this region, the health situation is aggravated by incessant conflicts and climate changes which put already vulnerable health systems to the test», says  Roberta Rughetti, Deputy Director of Amref Italia. 

«For this reason», continues  Rughetti, « an essential element of Amref’s work is the training of community health workers, key figures in bringing assistance to the remote, often isolated areas in which they live. In 2022, Amref trained over 48 thousand community health workers, also thanks to online platforms, useful for thus reducing the distances that too often prevent access to health facilities, even 30-50 kilometres away”.

“I was far from my family. I spent most of my time on the streets”, recalls  Ahmed, a fisherman and ex-drug addict from Kizimkazi, Zanzibar, in a video testimony collected by Amref. «I met with a team of community health workers for a check-up. After several tests, they discovered that I had chronic tuberculosis. Even today I remember these people because I was lost and they gave me hope again.”

“Investing in the training of community health workers», adds Gitahi“, is the key to change for a healthy and prosperous Africa in the future, and also has a positive economic impact: it has been calculated that every dollar spent on training health workers generates a profit of 9 dollars.”

According to the Ipsos survey for Amref (2023), the main perceived threats to the health of European citizens are represented by chronic diseases, while the health of African citizens they are represented by infectious diseases (56% ), living conditions (52% ) and the poor availability of healthcare facilities and workers (41%).

Universal access to health and universal health coverage implies that all people and communities have access, without any discrimination, to comprehensive, appropriate and timely quality health services determined nationally based on need, as well as access to safe, effective and affordable quality medicines, while ensuring that the use of such services does not expose users to financial hardship, especially vulnerable groups.

Photo_Amref Health Africa_Kennedy Musyoka

Article first published on https://www.vita.it/la-salute-e-un-diritto-ma-non-ancora-universale/