The World Health Day is being celebrated on April 7 as an annual event by various countries to commemorate the founding of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1950. This day is important in the calendar of Indian Red Cross Day to spread the message and create public awareness on the selected theme of the year. ‘Universal health coverage for everyone and everywhere’ is the theme for 2019 and is particularly relevant in the context of overall health scenario in the country as well as in Odisha.
There is a saying ‘health is wealth’ and to keep oneself healthy one has to take ‘an apple a day to keep the doctor at bay’ and similarlytake ‘an egg a day to keep healthy and gay’. These soothing letters do not seem to hold good any longer for the common man because overall health scenario and the environment have changed because of rise in human population and concomitant developmental activities despite tremendous progress in medical science. It is compounded by the relationship of humans with animal, plant and the soil, water and air which constitute our environment upon which humans greatly depend. The concept of ‘One health’ by the WHO is to combat multitudes of health issues of both man and animals. The latter are used as food animals from which six human diseases out of ten arise. Some germs become resistant to antibiotics on prolonged and indiscriminate use and become hazardous and potent danger to life.
Public health and veterinary public health have a great significance and role to play for our safe and healthy life. Given this narrative universal health coverage is WHO’s number one goal and key to achieving it is ensuring that everyone anywhere may be able to obtain the care they need at right time in the heart of the community.
But millions in our country and particularly in Odisha do not have access to good healthcare. Millions of people still are forced to choose between healthcare and other daily needs for survival or take
to sorcery or quackery at best. There is a mushrooming of specialised healthcare providers in cities and towns but their services are not affordable for a common man with little means. In this perspective, can we say that the rich only have the right to live and others don’t? The theme for the year, therefore, becomes all the more pertinent. Universal health coverage means that all people have access to quality health services they need, when and where they need them, without financial hardship. When we believe in this philosophy and think that it is possible it has to start with strong primary healthcare base.
A primary healthcare facility is centred on a whole- of-society approach to health and well-being. To fuel a beginning of a movement called ‘Health for all’ the focus will be on equity and solidarity- raising the bar for health for everyone, everywhere by addressing gaps in service, and leaving no one behind.
To make it possible, the Governments need to invest greater percentage of the GDP for quality and accessible primary healthcare which is yet to become universal, particularly in remote and tribal pockets of the State. Besides, awareness about health, personal hygiene particularly in females and immunisation etc., should be prioritised. Health workers need to care and advocate for patients and educate them on how to get and stay healthy. Massive awareness campaigns are necessary to
empower people to take care of their own health. Individuals, groups and community as a whole have a great responsibility to bring home the benefits of universal healthcare.
Let us pledge to not limit it to a slogan and work together all through the year for its accomplishment. The Indian Red Cross Society, through its dedicated life members, volunteers and the youth Red Cross wing can play a stellar role to fulfill of our goal.
(Dr Mohanty and Dashsharma are life members, Indian Red Cross Society)