Justice minister, DGA chief discuss partnership to boost digital judicial services    Netanyahu does not rule out further strikes on Hamas leaders    US farmers are being squeezed – and it's testing their deep loyalty to Trump    Romania condemns 'irresponsible' Moscow after Russian drone breaches its airspace    Kirk's assassination is forcing US politicians to make difficult choices about their safety    India players refused handshakes, says Pakistan coach    Final stage of Spanish Vuelta cycling race abandoned after disruption by pro-Palestine protesters    Mané fires Al Nassr past Al Kholood to keep perfect start as Ronaldo honored    Lacazette brace earns NEOM SC first Saudi Pro League win    Adolescence star Owen Cooper makes Emmys history at 15    Saudi liquidity grows 8.4%, reaching SR3.1 trillion in July 2025    Over 434,000 people acquire first aid skills during nationwide health campaign    Saudi Arabia's legislative advancement highlighted at International Conference on Judicial Training    Sudden swerving among 3 major causes of accidents in Riyadh in 2024    Princess Haifa emphasizes pivotal Saudi role in shaping future of tourism    Sahm Capital names Saudi Olympian Fayik Abdi as brand ambassador    SR9000 fine for copyright infringement using AI    King Charles and Prince Harry finally reunite after 19 months apart    Anastacia: Arnold Schwarzenegger made me sing Whatta Man 12 times    Thousands pay their last respects to Giorgio Armani, private funeral on Monday    The key to happiness    Sholay: Bollywood epic roars back to big screen after 50 years with new ending    Ministry launches online booking for slaughterhouses on eve of Eid Al-Adha    Shah Rukh Khan makes Met Gala debut in Sabyasachi    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



WHO chief outlines five 'vital changes' to address COVID-19 inequities
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 07 - 04 - 2021

Investing in equitable production and access to COVID-19 vaccines, tests and treatments, is among five "vital changes" the world needs to make this year to address the inequalities the pandemic has exacerbated, the UN's top health official said, marking World Health Day on Wednesday.
"While we have all undoubtedly been impacted by the pandemic, the poorest and most marginalized have been hit hardest — both in terms of lives and livelihoods lost," said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, speaking in Geneva on Tuesday.
A major barrier
At the beginning of the year, Tedros called for countries to start vaccinating all health workers within the first 100 days of 2021. Some 190 nations have meet the deadline, while the global vaccine equity initiative, COVAX, as delivered 36 million doses worldwide.
Tedros said scaling up production and equitable distribution remains the major barrier to ending the acute stage of the pandemic. "It is a travesty that in some countries health workers and those at-risk groups remain completely unvaccinated," he stated.
WHO will continue to call on governments to share vaccine doses and to support the ACT Accelerator for the equitable distribution of vaccines, rapid tests and therapeutics.
Invest in primary health care
With the pandemic exposing the fragility of health systems, Tedros stressed investment in primary health care must also be stepped up. At least half of the world's population still do not have access to essential health services, while 100 million are pushed into poverty each year due to medical expenses.
"As countries move forward post-COVID-19, it will be vital to avoid cuts in public spending on health and other social sectors. Such cuts are likely to increase hardship among already disadvantaged groups," he said.
Instead, governments should target spending an additional one percent of GDP on primary health care, while also working to address the shortfall of 18 million health workers needed globally to achieve universal health coverage by 2030.
Social protection, safe neighborhoods
Tedros also encouraged national authorities to prioritize health and social protection, and to build safe, healthy and inclusive neighborhoods.
"Access to healthy housing, in safe neighborhoods, is key to achieving health for all", he said. "But too often, the lack of basic social services for some communities traps them in a spiral of sickness and insecurity. That must change."
Countries must also intensify efforts to reach rural communities with health and other basic services. Tedros noted that "80 percent of the world's populations living in extreme poverty are in rural areas where 7 out of 10 people lack access to basic sanitation and water services."
For his final point, the WHO chief emphasized the need to enhance data and health information systems, which are critical to finding and addressing inequalities.
"Health inequality monitoring has to be an integral part of all national health information systems — at present just half the world's countries have any capacity to do this," he said.
Change the rules
The huge inequalities in health care also figured heavily in the statement from the Executive Director of UNAIDS, Winnie Byanyima, for World Health Day, which further revealed that 10,000 people die every day because they cannot access services.
She warned that the gaps will continue to widen as health systems increasingly become profit-led, but added that the pandemic could lead to greater commitment towards ensuring all people have access to quality healthcare.
"Now, in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, leaders across the world have an opportunity to build the health systems that were always needed, and which cannot be delayed any longer," Byanyima said.
"We cannot tinker around the edges — we need radical, transformative shifts. The COVID-19 response gives us an opportunity to change the rules and guarantee equality." — UN News


Clic here to read the story from its source.