…Says 90 per cent of member states report disruption in essential health services
The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged world leaders to prioritise citizens’ health as an integral input for development and growth.
This call was made by the WHO director-general, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus during his opening remarks at the 75th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.
He explained that adopting a holistic, deliberate and planned approach to health is sacrosanct in addressing the myriad of health-related challenges facing the world.
Ghebreyesus disclosed that 90 per cent of member states reported a disruption of one or more essential health services. He went ahead to stress the need to increase assessed contributions to 50 per cent of the core budget over the next decade.
“We still face many challenges, so we must look down to see where we are now. As I said yesterday, the pandemic is far from over and, even as we continue to fight it, we face the task of restoring essential health services, with 90 per cent of member states reporting disruption to one or more essential health services.
“Allow me now to look forward, to where I believe we need to go in the next five years. At the meeting of the executive board in January, I outlined my five priorities for the next five years. We are calling on every government to put the health of its people at the centre of its plans for development and growth.
“The pandemic has demonstrated why the world needs WHO, but also why the world needs a stronger, empowered and sustainably financed WHO. I welcome the recommendation of the Working Group on Sustainable Financing to increase assessed contributions to 50 per cent of the core budget over the next decade. Also, I welcome the recommendation to consider a replenishment model, to broaden our financing base and to provide more flexible funding for the programme budget,” he stated.
