Washington D.C. 12 December 2022 (PAHO) – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director, Dr Carissa F. Etienne, has known as on nations to redouble efforts in direction of reaching common well being as they start to rebuild from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This region urgently needs to act to reverse the socioeconomic and health losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, address the growing burden of foregone care and recover lost public health gains,” the Director mentioned at an occasion to mark Universal Health Day at the moment.

The occasion, “Build the world we want: A healthy future for all,” introduced collectively consultants from PAHO and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the Ministers of Health of Argentina, Colombia and Guyana to debate the steps that nations should take in direction of common well being entry and higher put together for the subsequent well being emergency.

Prior to the pandemic, whereas progress was being made, round a 3rd of individuals continued to overlook out on entry to well being companies, notably among the many most weak populations. This was compounded by inadequate public spending in well being and a scarcity of funding in major well being care.

During the occasion, Dr. Etienne highlighted 4 precedence areas for motion: reworking well being programs primarily based on major well being care; strengthening management and governance; bettering well being service supply networks; and growing and sustaining public financing in well being.

“After almost three years of pandemic, the region is facing several crises, including an ongoing social crisis,” Alberto Arenas, Director of Social Development at Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean mentioned.

“It is therefore crucial that we advance towards universal systems of social protection that are sustainable, resilient and that address the social determinants of health.”

The PAHO Director additionally warned that the “window of opportunity for action is small” so nations should take steps now in direction of constructing well being programs that meet the wants of the inhabitants, leaving nobody behind. This is especially essential given the various different crises going through the area, together with pure disasters, political unrest and a wave of unmet well being wants generated by the disruption in important companies over the previous three years.

“We do not know when and where the next international public health emergency will hit. But we do know that we have an obligation to act now, to strengthen preparedness and response capacity, and to expand universal access and coverage for all,” she mentioned.

PAHO continues to assist Member States all through the area in growing long-term methods for well being system transformation post-COVID-19, with a concentrate on resilience, inclusion and fairness.

This contains the event of a Regional Platform for the Production of Medicines and Vaccines, launched final 12 months to advertise native manufacturing and scale back regional dependency on imports.

“We are already envisioning a post-COVID-19 era where health systems and societies are more inclusive, equitable and resilient,” Dr. Etienne mentioned. But this should be translated into “coherent policy reform and action at the country level.”

“I know that we can act collectively, in the interest of all peoples in the Americas, to build a better world for all, one that is healthy, and one where the right to health truly becomes a reality.”

Universal Health Day

Universal Health Day is widely known annually on 12 December to boost consciousness about people and communities that also lack entry to important, complete and high quality well being companies primarily based on major well being care.

The theme this 12 months is “Build the world we want: a healthy future for all” – a name to renew the trail in direction of common well being within the restoration from the COVID-19 pandemic to construct resilient well being programs, capable of face future public well being emergencies.

Ministers Quotes:

Carla Vizzoti – Minister of Health of Argentina

“The challenge of building the world we want and a health future for all is immense, and requires political commitment that goes beyond health authorities. It requires the commitment not only of presidents but of all national cabinets. And, of course, it also requires international cooperation, solidarity and strategic planning.”  

Frank Anthony – Minster of Health, Guyana

“Guyana’s structure enshrines the fitting to well being as a basic human proper. And many nations globally, notably in Latin America and the Caribbean, equally acknowledge well being as a human proper. Currently, hundreds of thousands are with out well being care entry and plenty of extra can not afford care. These disparities are additional compounded by COVID-19, which has disrupted many conventional public well being packages corresponding to childhood immunization, HIV, TB and others.”

Jaime Urrego – Vice Minister of Public Health and Health Services Delivery, Colombia

“Coverage is not the same as access, but both are absolutely necessary to guarantee the fundamental right to health for all of citizens of the Americas.”

Magaly Gutierrez – Minister of Health of Venezuela

“A healthier world goes beyond things like a healthy diet, a functioning hospital, and even a structurally optimal health system. A healthy world requires the creation of social equity that enables the fair distribution of food, medicines, access to education, access to production, the timely access to health care centers and institutions, and access to life-saving technology.”