On the World Health Day, April 7, 2021, WHO is calling on everyone to participate in building a fairer and healthier world. The theme for the World Health Day 2021 is ‘Building a fairer, healthier world’.

The COVID- 19 pandemic has unfairly impacted some people more harshly than others. According to WHO, it has exacerbated existing inequities in health and welfare within and between countries. Amid shortages of essential supplies, African countries have been pushed to the back of the queue in accessing COVID-19 medical kits. Of 548 million COVID-19 vaccine doses administered worldwide, only 11 million or 2% have been in Africa. Meanwhile, the continent accounts for around 17% of the global population.

In a message, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti said there are also inequities within countries. He said discrimination based on gender, income, educational level, age, ethnicity among others intersect to disadvantage vulnerable populations. Illness and death from COVID-19 have been higher among groups who face discrimination, poverty, social exclusion, and other adverse conditions.

As countries continue to fight the pandemic, a unique opportunity emerges to build back better for a fairer, healthier world. This can be attainable by implementing existing commitments, resolutions, and agreements while also making new and bold commitments, WHO indicated.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has thrived amid the inequalities in our societies and the gaps in our health systems.

“It is vital for all governments to invest in strengthening their health services…, so more people have the chance to live healthy lives.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

Addressing Inequities

Dr Moeti said the key challenge in overcoming inequities is the availability of limited data showing who is being missed. To address this, he mentioned that national health information systems need to capture age, sex and equity stratified data. Such information are useful to informing decision- and policy-making.

“At WHO, we are working with countries to strengthen capacities to collect, manage and use data, and to enhance monitoring and action to address avoidable inequities.”
Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

Moreover, he said investment is also essential to accelerate progress towards Universal Health Coverage; to protect individuals from financial hardship in accessing needed care and to improve service coverage.

Specifically, on COVID-19 vaccines, he strongly encouraged pharmaceutical companies to expand their manufacturing capacities to overcome current supply shortages. He also encouraged wealthy countries to share their doses, so that the most-at-risk populations in all countries can be protected. In effect, saving lives and speeding-up the recovery from the global crisis.

Furthermore, he called on member states, civil society, communities, and other stakeholders to intensify work with WHO to achieve Universal Health Coverage; and to invest in addressing the social and economic determinants of health, to tackle inequities and build a fairer, healthier world.