Even though millions of people worldwide still lack access to high-quality healthcare, health is nevertheless regarded as a fundamental human right. Diseases, natural disasters, armed conflicts, and environmental challenges exacerbate these disparities, making health an elusive dream for many.
The theme of World Health Day 2024, "My Health, My Right," emphasizes the critical need to ensure everyone has access to quality healthcare, health education, healthy living conditions, and equality. Despite enshrining the right to health in their constitutions, over 140 countries face a gap between legal pronouncements and implementation.
Data reveals that over 4.5 billion people worldwide lack access to essential health services, underscoring the urgent need for global mobilization to strengthen healthcare systems, ensure equitable access to healthcare, raise health awareness, and create conditions for healthy living.
World Health Day 2024 serves as a call to action for governments, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector to unite in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3: "Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages." It reminds us that health is not only an individual value but also a public good that necessitates coordinated efforts at all levels.
Working together, we can create a world where everyone has the right to health and well-being. This requires not only international cooperation but also the active participation of every member of the global society. Each of us can contribute, whether through local health initiatives, participation in educational programs, or support for global efforts to combat prevalent diseases. Together, we can overcome the health challenges of our time and build a foundation for a healthy future for all.
More information: https://www.who.int/
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