The World Health Organisation (WHO) office in Ghana has said it remained committed to working with all stakeholders to support Ghana’s health sector priorities towards achieving the highest level of health for all Ghanaians.
It said although Ghana had made significant progress towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) as demonstrated in the improvement of Ghana’s UHC service coverage index from 35 in 2010 to 47.8 in 2021, it was important that those gains were consolidated by adhering to Ghana’s UHC roadmap.
These assurances were contained in a statement signed and issued in Accra, by the Communications Officer of WHO Ghana, Sayibu Ibrahim Suhuyini, to mark the 75th anniversary of the WHO, which falls Friday, April 7.
WHO formation
In 1948, countries of the world came together and founded WHO to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable so that everyone, everywhere can attain the highest level of health and well-being.
Working with 194 member states across six regions and on the ground in more than 150 offices, WHO envisions a world where Health for All is realized. The theme for the celebration is Health for All.
Health for All
The statement said, at the heart of Health for All was the attainment of UHC through primary health, where people could have access to affordable, equitable, good quality and sustainable health care.
It said in Ghana, around 36.2 percent of health expenditure came out of people’s pockets and as a result, a significant number of persons continued to be pushed further below the poverty line due to spending on health.
It, therefore, called for national health strategies to position primary health care as the entry point into a health system that not only treated ill health but also prevented illnesses and promoted good health, thereby reducing the need for more expensive curative services.
It said the right to health was a basic human right that promoted health and well-being, dignity, and good quality of life for everyone, despite who they were, where they lived or what they do.
Anniversary
Touching on the anniversary, the statement quoted the WHO Representative in Ghana, Dr Francis Kasolo as saying that, it was an opportunity for them to reflect on the remarkable achievements of their collective efforts to advance the health and well-being of the people of Ghana.
“It is also the chance for us to rally around a common agenda and strengthen our commitment to tackling emerging health challenges towards achieving health for all,” it said.
Support to Ghana
The statement mentioned some of WHO’s support to Ghana including technical and financial support in building a resilient health system that was capable of withstanding shocks.
It said the WHO had also extended support in the fight against diseases, leading to the interruption of wild poliovirus as well as the elimination of Guinea worm, Trachoma, Human African Trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) and Neonatal Tetanus as public health problems.
The organization, it further stated, had assisted the country in the development of strategic documents such as the National Action Plan for Health Security, National strategy on non-communicable diseases including Mental Health, Comprehensive Multi-Year Plan for the Expanded Programme on Immunization, and the National Innovative Health Financing Strategy.
On immunization, the statement said in contrast to the global immunization picture, in Ghana, 1.24 million children received the third dose of the Diphtheria-Pertussis-Tetanus (DPT) containing vaccine in 2022 compared to the 1.17 million children who received the same vaccine in 2019.
This, it described as a remarkable performance adding that it was achieved through concerted support provided by WHO and other partners to sustain the delivery of essential services, including immunization.