Health for all is the foundation of resilient communities that contribute to a more prosperous, peaceful and sustainable future. Today, more than ever, the health and well-being of people everywhere is under threat. In an increasingly turbulent world confronted by climate change, conflict, disease outbreaks and complex health emergencies, countries need to deliver Universal Health Coverage (UHC) urgently to protect their populations.
WHO, with support from its donors and partners, has been working to turn high-level political commitments on UHC into action and investment in countries. This includes the provision of technical expertise in designing more equitable and resilient health systems using a primary health care (PHC) approach, developing health plans, strengthening the delivery of medicines and vaccines, boosting the health workforce, promoting health and preventing diseases, among others.
On Universal Health Coverage Day 2023, we showcase various stories of hope and progress. In Burkina Faso, for example, district health facilities are better equipped to address the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases after receiving assistance to strengthen their health workforce and to deliver essential care.
In Tajikistan, maternal and child mortality rates have decreased as a result of investments in infrastructure and health workforce training at primary care level. In India, communities living in the forests, many of whom have never visited a hospital in their lives, are now able to access basic health services during their weekly visits to their community markets.
Mobile medical teams are using these markets as a strategic way to reach remote populations. In Lesotho, more lives are saved through the improvement of critical care capacities. WHO is also working with countries to ensure that refugees and migrants worldwide have access to healthcare.
Source: World Health Organization
