| The World Health Report of 2008 has found that there are significant inequities in health outcomes as it relates to access to basic health services and what people have to pay in order to get these services.On Tuesday last, the report was officially handed over to Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy by Country representative of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO),Cheap Authentic Jerseys, Dr. Kathleen Israel.The report has since found that the difference in life expectancy between the richest and poorest countries now exceeds 40 years. Of the estimated 136 million women who will give birth this year, around 58 million will receive no medical assistance whatsoever during childbirth and the postpartum period, endangering their lives and that of their infants.According to the report,Cheap Jerseys, globally,NFL Jerseys China Cheap, annual government expenditure on health varies from as little as US$20 per person to well over US$6000. For 5.6 billion people in low- and middle-income countries, more than half of all health care expenditure is through out-of-pocket payments.It was noted that with the costs of health care rising and systems for financial protection in disarray, personal expenditure on health now pushes more than 100 million people below the poverty line each year.The report indicates that conditions of “inequitable access, impoverishing costs,Discount NFL Jerseys, and erosion of trust in health care constitute a threat to social stability.”To steer health systems towards better performance, the report calls for a return to primary health care – a holistic approach to health care formally launched 30 years ago. When countries at the same level of economic development are compared, those where health care is organized around the tenets of primary health care produce a higher level of health for the same investment.In calling for a return to primary health care, the World Health Organization (WHO) argues that its values, principles and approaches are more relevant now than ever before. Several findings support this conclusion. As the report notes, inequalities in health outcomes and access to care are much greater today than they were in 1978.The report, however, recommends that the core strategy for tackling inequalities is to move towards universal coverage in a spirit of equity, social justice, and solidarity.It was noted that primary health care also offers the best way of coping with the ills of life in the 21st century such as the globalization of unhealthy lifestyles, rapid unplanned urbanization,Wholesale Jerseys From China, and the ageing of populations.These trends contribute to a rise in chronic diseases like heart disease,Cheap NFL Jerseys, stroke, cancer, diabetes and asthma that create new demands for long-term care and strong community support.The report states that a multi sectoral approach is central to prevention, as the main risk factors for these diseases lie outside the health sector.The report noted that health systems will not naturally gravitate towards greater fairness and efficiency as deliberate policy decisions are needed.Titled, Primary health care – now more than ever, the report commemorates the 30th anniversary of the Alma-Ata International Conference on Primary Health Care held in 1978. That event was the first to put health equity on the international political agenda.At Tuesday’s handing over ceremony, Dr. Israel noted that the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) established by the WHO cannot be achieved if primary health care is not revitalized.According to Dr. Israel, primary health care is the main vehicle that will assist in achieving the MDGs.The MDGs set out by the WHO states that by 2025 no child should die of preventable causes, there should be no deaths of mothers by preventable causes and poverty should be eliminated.As it relates to the primary health care, Dr. Israel said that it is now time for them to reevaluate the situation. She noted that the report sets out the global scenario and the various types of reforms that would be necessary to move primary health care forward because as the report indicates, it is more relevant now than it ever was 30 years ago.“It sets out the circumstances, the reforms required and it makes recommendations on how countries can go about addressing those reforms in the interest of moving primary health care and its ideals forward,” Dr. Israel said.Meanwhile, Dr. Ramsammy pointed out that the Caribbean has been able to eliminate measles as an illness and as a killer among children and people in general, along with smallpox and polio.‘These successes came from primary health care (PHC), bringing health to the people in our communities and that is the great impact of primary health care. Unfortunately for a time, PHC was seen as bringing cheap health to the people. PHC is not cheap health. In fact the investment that we must make in terms of PHC is enormous,” Dr. Ramsammy said.In terms of PHC goals, Minister Ramsammy said that Guyana will achieve the MDGs by 2015. He explained that there is approximately 95 percent of immunization coverage in the country, while ante natal care is available to the nation.“The bottom line of PHC is promoting equity and social justice so that every citizen of a country can have access to good health equally. Whether they are poor or rich, they can all have health care that would prevent diseases and wherever diseases can’t be prevented, they can be managed,” Minister Ramsammy said. (Fareeza Haniff) |
