ONE of the basic rights of every human being is to enjoy the highest possible levels of health.

Governments have national and international responsibilities to provide quality health services that are affordable and available to all without discrimination.

However, this reality in developing countries such as in East Africa is a wish that has not yet been fulfilled.

The main principle is that the right to health depends on the availability of government resources.

Although governments in this region have been overwhelmed by the lack of resources and failure to provide integrated health services for all people, health services for the poor and those affected are not optional but a duty.

In addition, the government wants to continue to expand the provision of health care every year and it is the responsibility of the government to show that it is doing so and with the maximum of available resources.

Today is the international day of universal health services where the United Nations has emphasized the issue of universal health care.

The Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus says that the issue of health care for all is the main goal of the organization, saying that the important step to achieve it is to ensure that everyone gets the care they need, when they need it in their community.

He says, although progress has been made in some countries around the world to see that everyone has access to health care, millions of people still have to choose between health care and food, clothing or even housing.

"We are here to make a firm statement that health is a right and not a privilege.

We are here to say that all people have the right to get the health care they need, when they need it without any financial constraints," says the director general of the WHO during a special event held in Geneva, Switzerland.

He adds that, WHO is the cornerstone of primary health care for all and that, "Primary health care for all involves all major human health needs.

It also helps people avoid going to hospital and stay in their communities.”

For that reason, on this international day of universal health services this year 2022, they are increasingly calling on nations to invest in basic health services.

This director general of the WHO reminds that this celebration should mean that governments should ensure that all people and communities receive the medical services they need without financial difficulties.

Universal health care enables everyone to access services related to the main causes of illness and death, and ensures that the quality of those services is appropriate to improve the health of the people who receive them.

Achieving universal health care is one of the goals set by many countries around the world when they adopted the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015.

Countries that have made progress in health care for all will also make progress in other matters related to health and development.

Good health enables children to study and adults to earn.

In countries where health services are usually available and affordable, governments continue to face the challenges of addressing the increasing health needs of citizens and the rising costs of health services.

In order to achieve universal health care, it is necessary to strengthen health systems in all countries.

Firm funding guidelines are essential.

When people are required to pay a lot of health care costs out of their own pockets, the poor often fail to get the services they need and even the well-off may experience financial difficulties if illnesses worsen or take a long time to recover.

Strengthening the availability of health services and health outcomes depend on the presence, access and ability of health workers to provide quality joint services to people.

Investment in quality primary health care will be the key to achieving universal health care worldwide as it is a cost-effective way.

Good governance, robust import and distribution systems for medicines and health technologies as well as functional health information systems are other important issues.

To meet the health worker needs of the Sustainable Development Goals and universal health services, more than 18 million additional health workers are needed by the year 2030. The increase in the need for health workers is estimated to add approximately 40 million jobs in the health sector. on the world economy by the year 2030.

Investment is needed from the public and private sectors in the education of health workers, as well as creating and filling funded positions in the health sector and its economy.

Health services, which include the treatment of traditional and modern medicine, if coordinated based on the full needs and expectations of people and society will help motivate and make them more involved in their health and the health system.

Important facts about universal health care Almost half of the world's population still does not have access to basic health services.

100 million people are still in poverty because they cannot afford health services.

More than 800 million people, equivalent to 12 percent of the world's population, spend 10 percent of their household income on health care.

All 193 member states of the United Nations have agreed to reach the goal of universal health care by 2030, as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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