The World Health Organisation (WHO) has commended member states’ efforts to accelerate progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, said this in her message to commemorate close of WHO’s 75th Anniversary weekend. She added that public health successes have improved the quality of life of populations during the last seven decades.
She said the theme for World Health Day 2024, “My Health, My Right” is appropriate to recall how we increased the rights of our region’s people through health.
“We have made significant progress in ensuring better health outcomes for our people over the past decades. More mothers and children are surviving today than before.
“From 2000 to 2020, the life expectancy of African women increased from 54 to 67 years, the maternal mortality ratio decreased by 33% (from 788 to 531 maternal deaths per 100 000 lives), and the number of children dying before the age of 5 was reduced by 50% from 2000 to 2017.
She said between 2011 and 2021, the number of new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths decreased by 44% and 55%, respectively across Africa, and the number of TB deaths decreased by 26%.
