This refers to the article, “Securing health coverage for all” (April 6) by Poonam Khetrapal Singh. ‘Highest possible level of health’ and ‘Health for all’ should not remain as mere slogans. Unarguably, promotion and maintenance of health at any level is a herculean task. The World Health Organisation (WHO) is addressing the task reasonably well amidst mounting challenges. But for WHO's path-breaking initiatives to prevent, control and eradicate a host of non-communicable and communicable diseases, small pox and polio would not have been history and tuberculosis and malaria would not have been the “pale shadow of themselves”. However, on ‘World Health Day’ on April 7, it is imperative for the WHO to set fresh priorities.
This year's ‘Universal Health Coverage: Everyone, everywhere’ theme of the WHO is significant and appealing. However, the WHO will have to involve all stakeholders to ensure that perfect mind and robust body aren't the prerogatives of a selected few. The agency has to fan awareness by targeting vulnerable groups and the non-affordable people by taking more and more local organisations into confidence because without active societal participation, the very purpose of ‘universal’ stands defeated. The ‘health day’ should not be a one-day affair but should be a sustained and relentless campaign throughout the year. Governments, NGOs, doctors and health volunteers have to use the day as a potent weapon to target the needy because a healthy citizen is a ‘booster dose’ for the socio-economic status of a nation.