“Together for a healthier world” – Ghebreyesus

The new Director-General of the World Health Organisation, (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus who began his five-year term on July 1, 2017 has acknowledge his vision together for a healthier world.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the right of every individual to basic health services will be his top priority; Ensuring universal health coverage without impoverishment is the foundation for achieving the health objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“Health for all” must be the centre of gravity for efforts to achieve all of the SDGs – because when people are healthy, their families, communities and countries benefit. But we have a long way to go. About 400 million people – one out of every 17 of the world’s citizens – lack access to essential health services.

According to him, WHO’s top priority must be to support national health authorities’ efforts to strengthen their core responsibilities – including health workforce, service delivery and health information systems – and to enact policies aimed at ensuring health coverage, including mental health care, is equitable and affordable for all. Applying a one-size- fits-all approach will not be possible; unique systems are needed to meet countries’ unique needs. However, lessons learned must be shared across countries to drive progress.

Tedros who previously served as Ministers of Health and Foreign Affairs in Ethiopia is optimistic that his administration would bring about where everyone can live healthy, productive lives, regardless of who they are or where they live said, “achieving universal health coverage is an ambitious goal, but it is one that can and must be achieved to create a healthier and more equitable world”.

“This will require a health-in-all policies approach that also addresses the social, economic and political determinants of health. We will need strong commitments from and partnerships between all players, including: National governments, Bilateral and multilateral agencies, civil society” said Tedros

However, in the private health sector, we will need all players to overcome barriers in access to quality diagnosis and care, essential drugs and financial protection. We will need countries to increase domestic financing for health and pilot innovative financing strategies, including in partnership with the burgeoning private sector. And we will need a stronger focus on driving access to medicines to combat both communicable diseases, like HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, neglected tropical diseases and hepatitis, and non-communicable diseases, like cancer, heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes, he added.

Furthermore Tedros said, we need a WHO that is efficiently managed, adequately resourced and results driven, with a strong focus on transparency, accountability and value for money.

“I will champion mechanisms to meaningfully listen to, learn from and engage people and communities – including migrant, displaced and disabled individuals; people living in rural, urban slum and low-income areas; and other vulnerable populations.

  “This engagement – and what we learn from it – will be at the centre of our efforts to mobilize resources and hold authorities accountable for the health of all, regardless of age, gender, income, sexual orientation or religion. I will engage with Heads of State, Ministers across a wide range of portfolios, multilateral institutions, the UN system, civil society and the private sector to make access to health care and protection from infectious disease outbreaks a central” said Tedros