Like other parts of the globe, the World Health Day was also observed in Pakistan on April 7 (Saturday) to create global awareness in public about various health issues under the sponsorship of the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as other related organizations.
This year, the global health awareness day was celebrated with the theme ‘Universal health coverage: everyone, everywhere’ under the slogan ‘Health for All’.
World Health Day was celebrated by the people all across the globe under leadership of World Health Organization (WHO) to draw people’s attention towards the importance of global health, Private news channel reported.
It is an annual event being celebrated for years to raise the common public awareness towards health issues and concerns.
World Health Day targets all the health issues on global basis for which several programmes are organized yearly by the WHO and other related health organizations at schools colleges medical facilities and other public places.
Without it, the lives and welfare of millions of people and communities around the world are negatively affected, particularly in low-income countries.
Universal health coverage increases people’s opportunity to work and earn a living, increases children’s chances of reaching their full academic potential and forms the basis for long term economic development.
WHO is founded on the principle that it is the right of everyone to enjoy the highest attainable standard of health.
However, almost 100 million people are being pushed into extreme poverty, forced to survive on just US$ 1.90 or less a day, because they have to pay for health services out of their own pockets.
Universal health coverage means that all individuals and communities receive the health care services they need without suffering financial hardship.
Universal health coverage enables everyone to access the services that address the most important causes of disease and death, and ensures that those services are of sufficient quality to improve the health of the people who receive them.
On the occasion of World Health Day 2018, and as part of regional celebrations, the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean hosted a panel discussion on universal health coverage, focusing on vulnerable and refugee populations.
