With the theme "My Health, My Right," the Department of Health (DOH), along with the World Health Organization (WHO) Philippines, celebrated World Health Day on Sunday, April 7.
The celebration highlighted the importance of achieving Universal Health Care (UHC) and ensuring everyone has access to high-quality healthcare in the country.
“Leaders of the national government, members of civil society, healthcare professionals, individuals, families, and religious and community leaders all play crucial roles in advancing the human right to health,” WHO representative to the Philippines Dr. Rui Paulo de Jesus said in a statement.
“Together, we can combat inequalities to ensure that everyone can enjoy the benefits of good health. No one should be left behind,” he added.
The DOH and the WHO both shared the vision, underscoring that health is fundamental to enhancing and improving overall well-being and human development.
“Throughout the years, the DOH and WHO have worked hand-in-hand, resulting in significant milestones in public health such as the elimination of polio, the decrease in malaria incidence, and the passage and issuance of various legal and policy instruments supporting public health, including the UHC Law, the Reproductive Health Law, Sin Tax reforms, and Tobacco Control laws, and national policies on health promotion and disease prevention and control,” WHO Philippines penned.
Moreover, the organization pointed out that the initiative is a “response to vulnerable populations, including the poor and less educated, who continue to have the highest rates of illness, the worst health outcomes, and difficulty obtaining and affording healthcare.”
“World Health Day serves as a poignant reminder of our collective commitment to ensuring every individual’s right to health,” DOH Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa said.
“As we navigate through the challenges ahead, the Department of Health reaffirms its dedication to advancing access to quality healthcare for all Filipinos, leaving no one behind dahil sa Bagong Pilipinas, ang Bawat Buhay ay Mahalaga,” he added.
On April 5, the WHO Western Pacific Region held a press conference ahead of World Health Day.
During the conference, WHO Western Pacific Region Director Dr. Saia Ma'u Piukala said that the organization's primary concern is measles and pertussis, also known as "whooping cough."
The briefing also addressed the ongoing presence of Covid-19 and expressed concern regarding a study showing that two out of five people living in the Western Pacific still lack access to essential health services.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2024/4/5/who-raises-concerns-over-measles-pertussis