By Abiodun Busari |
The Ministry of Health has concluded plans to commemorate the World Health Day on Friday, April 7, with activities lined up in tandem with the World Health Organisation (WHO).
This year’s celebration is the 75th anniversary day with countries around the world coming together in 1948 and founded WHO to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable – so everyone, everywhere can attain the highest level of health and well-being.
In Nigeria, the Honourable Minsiter of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire has graciously approved the celebration of the WHO Day on Thursday the 6th of April 2023/WHW week.
According to a statement received by the Development News Network, “the celebration will encompass the WHO Commemorative walk from 7am to 9am, starting from the Unity Fountain to the Federal Ministry of Health. The Nigerian Police and the FRSC will be on hand to support the event.
“The ministerial press briefing will take place at the Federal Ministry of Health immediately following the Commemorative walk. And the World Health Worker Week Ministerial Briefing scheduled tomorrow, at 10:00am.”
In the statement signed by Alaigbe Dr Ngozi Azodoh, the WHO Country Representative, Dr Walter Kazadi Mulumbo is expected to grace the event.
WHO, working with 194 member states across six regions and on the ground in more than 150 offices, envisions a world where Health for All is realised. The right to health is a basic human right that promotes health and well-being, dignity and good quality of life for everyone, despite who they are, where they live or what they do.
WHO Nigeria in collaboration with the government have been achieving notable strides in keeping the people safe and serving vulnerable population, in such areas as combatting infectious disease, HIV treatment, reducing maternal mortality, increase in life expectancy, and supporting disease eradication.
The achievements: “In 1969, the WHO effort in Nigeria was historical during the interruption of the smallpox outbreak in the country. A key element in the eradication effort was the surveillance-containment strategy, which was first tested in Nigeria in 1966, and led to its adoption throughout the world.
“This paved a way for the thirty-third World Health Assembly to adopt a resolution accepting the report of the Global Commission for the Certification of Smallpox Eradication in May 1980.
“Nigeria was certified Guinea Worm free by WHO in December 2013.
“A recent milestone is Nigeria and the WHO AFRO Region were certified wild polio-free in August 2020, creating WPV free environment to children to prevent paralysis.
“WHO Nigeria implemented Accountability Framework to monitor its 2000+ Polio workforce at field level. This has significantly contributed to the WPV eradication from Nigeria.
“Currently, WHO Nigeria is supporting the government of Nigeria in interrupting (circulating vaccine derived polio virus type 2) cVDPV2 outbreak. In 2022, 84% reduction in cVDPV2 registered compared to 2021.
“In recent times, WHO supported Nigeria in the fight against the global COVID-19 pandemic. As at 03 April 2023, 71.1% of eligible population (82.5 mln) vaccinated with at least one dose. The proportion of the total eligible population fully vaccinated reached at 61.1% (71.5 mln eligible population).
“To ensure Nigerians do not go poor while seeking medical services, WHO is supporting the government of Nigeria to operationalize the National Health Act and the National Health Insurance Act (2022).
“In 2014, WHO supported Nigeria to successfully respond to the Ebola virus disease; making it a best practice that is widely cited in scientific cycles.
“Stopped treatment for Lymphatic filariasis in 103 LGAs suggesting elimination in these areas and stopped treatment for Onchocerciasis in 12 states, suggesting elimination in these areas.
“NAFDAC attained Maturity level 3 in the WHO Global Benchmarking of Regulatory System. Indicating that the country regulatory system for medicines is stable, well-functioning and integrated regulatory system.
“Similarly, WHO has been supporting the government across all levels to build the capacity of health workers to improve health resources and services provided in the country.
“Furthermore, WHO has continued to support the protracted humanitarian crisis in the northeast region of Nigeria since 2016.”
The global health agency, concerning the Universal Health Coverage, said, “At the heart of health for all is the attainment of Universal Health Coverage, where people can have access to affordable, equitable, good quality and sustainable health care.
“In the WHO African Region, around 25% of health expenditure comes out of people’s pockets and as a result, hundreds of millions of people in the African region have been pushed further below the poverty line due to spending on health. National health strategies should therefore position primary health care as the entry point into a health system which not only treats ill health but also prevents illness and promotes good health.”
“I join Government and other stakeholders to commend the efforts of health workers and all those working hard to keep us healthy. One of the key events happening this week is the 5th Global forum on Human Resources for Health and commemoration of World Health workers’ week.
“WHO join the call for more investment in human resources for health, by increasing pre-service training, implementing strategies to attract, retain and ensure optimal performance of highly motivated health workers in Nigeria.
“Concerning Universal Health Coverage progress, WHO and partners made relentless efforts for the National Health Insurance Authority Bill to be signed into law in May 2022: which makes health insurance mandatory for all citizens and legal residents. The law creates a mechanism to finance health service delivery for the poor and vulnerable.
“The African region is also facing unprecedented health emergencies, driven by conflict, political instability, and the effects of climate change. The greater Horn of Africa is experiencing the worst drought in 40 years and floods caused by cyclones and tropical storms recently affected countries in Southern Africa.
“These climate events are driving outbreaks of measles, polio, mpox, cholera and yellow fever. There are ongoing disease outbreaks in 31 African countries and more than half of these have more than one concurrent outbreak. Currently, WHO Nigeria is supporting government in Outbreak Response for Cholera, cVDPV2, and Diphteria.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has rolled back the hard-won gains made in routine immunization against vaccine-preventable childhood diseases. In the past three years, it is estimated that 21 million children have not received a single vaccine dose.
“In 2021, the world saw the worst continued decline in routine immunization in 30 years, and WHO estimates that immunization coverage will not return to 2019 levels until 2027 without immediate action to catch up and get back to normal.”
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