Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, made a statement to mark World Health Day (WHD), which is celebrated annually on April 7th. In her statement, Dr Moeti highlighted that Africa has made significant progress in ensuring better health outcomes for its people over the past decade.
The theme for the 2024 WHD is ‘My Health, My Right’. Dr Moeti urged member states of the United Nations to uphold the progress made towards fulfilling the right to health for all, which was agreed upon by nations in 1948 and enshrined in the WHO Constitution.
Dr Moeti stated that more mothers and children are surviving today than ever before. From 2000 to 2020, the life expectancy of African women increased from 54 to 67 years. Additionally, the maternal mortality ratio decreased by 33% from 788 to 531 maternal deaths per 100,000 lives. The number of children dying before the age of five was reduced by 50% from 2000 to 2017.
Furthermore, from 2011 to 2021, the number of new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths decreased by 44% and 55% respectively across Africa. The number of TB deaths also decreased by 26%. Dr Moeti highlighted that several diseases are on the verge of eradication and elimination, including polio, guinea worm disease, as well as maternal and neonatal tetanus.
Dr Moeti applauded the efforts of member states to accelerate progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and reforming their health policies. They are also revamping legislative and regulatory frameworks, including National Health Insurance Schemes (NHIS) and Social Health Insurance (SHI) schemes to reduce catastrophic out-of-pocket health expenditures.
Several countries have also started operationalizing an integrated Life Stages Approach, which prioritizes the health of individuals at every stage of their life and the care needed at any time.
Dr. Moeti emphasized that health is not only a fundamental human right but also central to peace and prosperity. Addressing health inequities requires intentional efforts, and the needs of vulnerable groups must be assessed and integrated into health programs at all levels to accelerate progress toward UHC.
However, despite the progress made, many in the African region still need help accessing quality essential health services due largely to unfulfilled rights. This is further compounded by protracted and ongoing crises such as conflicts, climate change, food insecurity, disease outbreaks, and epidemics.
Dr Moeti highlighted that the number of people aged 15 and older living with HIV is still high, estimated at 24.3 million in 2021, 3.4% of the total population, compared to 15.6 million in 2005. This reflects the continued transmission of HIV, despite reductions in the incidence of people newly infected and the benefits of significantly expanded access to antiretrovirals.
Disparities in the coverage of key reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health interventions remain significant. The rural dwellers, the poor, and those in hard-to-reach areas are the most disadvantaged, with about 8% of the population in the African region still experiencing catastrophic health expenditures.
Since the first WHD was held by the WHO in 1948, this day is seen as an opportunity to draw worldwide attention to a subject of major importance to global health each year.
